County officials urge state to kick in money for new election machines

County officials are appealing to leaders in the state legislature, urging the Legislative Council to set aside a million dollars as the state match for federal money that’ll help buy new voting equipment. Cherokee County Auditor Barb Huey, president of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors, says if the state doesn’t come through, local governments across the state will have to raise property taxes to come up with the money.Huey says the property tax is the only funding source available for county officials. Huey says without the state funding, local governments will be forced to come up with the money to buy new equipment for voting that is required under new federal regulations.Huey says her county will have to buy a new electronic device for disabled voters, and find some way to finance poll worker training. Republican and Democrat lawmakers have been feuding over state election law charges that got tied up with the issue of providing state match money for voting machine purchases. Huey, who is a Democrat, and Republican Mike King, a Union County Supervisor, have sent a letter to legislative leaders, urging them to “put partisan politics aside and do the right thing.” Huey says their message, to date, hasn’t been heard by legislators and she says “it’s been a battle” to try to get the state to put up the matching money.