Republicans in the Iowa Senate have put their own stamp on a “voter I-D” bill. The G-O-P senators have voted to shorten the “early” voting window in Iowa from 40 days down to 29. In addition, Senate Republicans want precinct workers to check a prospective voter’s SIGNATURE on a driver’s license or voter I-D card to verify the voter’s eligibility. Republican Senator Roby Smith of Davenport says it’s common sense.
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Democrats predicted there’ll be longer lines at the polls on Election Day as fewer Iowans will vote early and it’ll take time for precinct workers to evaluate each voter’s signature.
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That’s Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque. All 26 Republican senators present voted for their plan. It would let 17 year olds who’ll turn 18 by Election Day in November vote in the party primaries in June. The bill now goes back to the House for consideration of those Senate changes. House Republicans passed their own “voter I-D” proposal back on March 9th.