Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate, visited Carroll yesterday (Wednesday) as part of his office’s effort to prepare citizens for the implementation of the new voter identification law. The law will require Iowa voters to show an approved form of documentation in order to cast a ballot in local, state and federal elections and referendums. Pate says they are working to educate the public and help them adjust to the changes.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the law will go into full effect. Pate says the new system will primarily use driver’s licenses to prove voting eligibility, so the vast majority of Iowans already registered to vote will not notice a difference.
More than 90 percent of Iowans have a license, and if they are registered to vote, nothing else will be required. For individuals without one, Pate says non-operator ID cards, passports, military and veteran IDs or the new Voter ID PIN cards can be used. He is encouraging organizations like county political committees, assisted living facilities and government agencies to lend a hand with getting voters ready by signing up for their new information tool kits.
Forty special elections have been held across the state so far under the new regulations, and Pate says those have been very successful. The first real test of the system comes on June 5 with the party primaries. The mid-term general election will be held on Nov. 6. Links to register for a tool kit or for more information on the new voter ID law can be found included below.
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