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(Des Moines, IA) -- A pair of bills related to the way elections are carried out are advancing in the Iowa Legislature. Both floor managed by State Rep. Austin Harris (R-Moulton), House File 928 and House File 954 are both moving on. The former focuses specifically on the recount process, while the latter takes a more general approach.
House File 928
This bill changes the recount board to the County Auditor and their staff and it allows each of them to select up to five observers. The bill also enhances the Secretary of State's power in the process by allowing them to fine the auditor $25,000 if they believe the recount is done intentionally in violation of the law. Some opponents to the bill say the system is fine as is. That includes State Rep. Adam Zabner (D-Iowa City).
"I think it's important to remember why it is that we have a system in the first place to allow for recounts," Zabner says. "It's really about trust. It's about verifying the decision that was made by the auditor when they counted the votes on election night."
The current system has each candidate pick one person and requires them to either agree to the third or get appointed by a judge. Harris says changing to the proposed system is still about trust.
"The assertion that we can not trust our local auditors and our election officials to conduct a recount properly I think sows distrust in the system that is not helpful," Harris says. "We allow them to conduct the initial election to begin with. Why would we not trust them to conduct the recount?"
The bill also calls for an election to be decided by 1% or less in order to be eligible for a recount.
House File 954
This bill is more focused on elections in general. It expands the ability of the Secretary of State to confirm voter registration by contracting with private entities and other government agencies. That includes requiring the Department of Transportation to send a list of those 17 and older who have indicated they are not a citizen. The bill also would ban ranked choice voting in the state, which became a talking point of opponents.
"When I travel around the state of Iowa and I talk to Iowans...the number one thing I hear is that folks are fed up with our polarized two party system and the choices that are available," Zabner says. "...you know, you need candidates with different view points to run and have the advantage of ranked choice voting."
As other Republicans have stated on the issue, Harris says he hasn't heard from anyone asking for the method.
"To me, it's an important provision of the bill," Harris says. "I think we should ban it. But, compared to other aspects of the legislation, I think it changes the least amount of current practices. By far, I think the most important piece of this legislation is giving our Secretary of State the ability to verify someone's citizenship status...just one illegal vote is an attack on all of our votes. To me, it threatens what it means to be an American."
Both bills passed the House on Tuesday and will now head to the Iowa Senate for further consideration.