Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
The election of Republican Matt Schultz as the new secretary of state marks a potential shift in voting laws in the state — namely changes to voter identification and early voting.
Last week Schultz upset Democratic incumbent Michael Mauro, winning a tight race 50 to 47 percent. Schultz spent less than $100,000 on both the primary and general election campaigns.
His major campaign platform rested on the simple notion of requiring a photo identification before voting in the state. He said under current state law, polling personnel can ask for identification but are not required to do so. Schultz explained his position further on Jan Mickelson’s WHO radio show.
“When someone shows up to the polls, you should prove who you are,” he said. “Otherwise, all you need is a name and a birthday — you can tell any poll worker in this state your name, a name and a birthday. As long as you have that matched up, you can cast a vote.”
Schultz says that this plan would mimic a similar law in Indiana which requires people to show a photo I.D., which he says is easily accessible.
“If you can’t get one — which most people have a driver’s license or some sort of photo I.D. — but if you can’t you can show up to the Motor Voter, to our Department of Motor Vehicles and get a free I.D.,” he said.
John Slockett, the Johnson county auditor, said Iowa already has a voter identification law that requires voters to provide an Iowa driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, and their name and date of birth. County auditors then verify the information to prove that person is alive and unique. If a voter registers within 10 days of election day, Slockett said there are stringent I.D. requirements involving both photo identification and proof of address.
“I think it’s really a good idea after being elected to any office — whether it’s United States Senator or township trustee — to spend quite a bit of time learning before you start making significant changes,” Slockett said. He later added: “We’ve already got a voter I.D. law and I don’t see any reason to ask people to carry an I.D. around with them, because that is offensive and has a chilling effect on some voters taking part in the process.”
He said some voters — because of religious objections or because of their minority status — reject having to carry an I.D.
The issue of same-day registration also came up in the campaign, which Slockett said is a necessity to keep in place. In 2008, 45,000 Iowans used same-day registration. According to 2009 Census data, there were 2,273,148 Iowans of voting age. On Nov. 1 — the day before the election this year — there were 1,984,995 registered voters statewide. Therefore, Slockett said by eliminating on-day registration they would have disenfranchised 288,153 people.
“I think it’s important to lower barriers to voting and encourage people to participate in the system,” he said. “I think that maybe Mr. Schultz will come around to that view in time.”
Schultz visited the Johnson County Auditor’s office during the campaign. Slockett said that he found him personable and believes he can enact effective policies after listening to county auditors statewide.
“I think he’s a likable individual and that he will have a real opportunity to work with the county auditors,” Slockett said. “I genuinely hope he makes an effort to do that.”
Schultz will be the sixth — three Democratic and three Republican — secretary of state that Slockett has worked with. Slockett said the two Republicans he worked under did not add obstacles to voting or allow political ideology to consume their office. Mauro was popular among county auditors statewide and was endorsed by 43 county auditors during the campaign, including 11 Republicans. Slockett said the executive council of the statewide county auditors is working with Schultz to set up its first meeting.
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