An Iowa Democratic Party official is accusing Republicans of trying to “thwart” Iowans’ ability to vote. Dr. Deb Turner of Des Moines, the new development chair for the Iowa Democratic Party, held a news conference at the statehouse to criticize two election reform bills Republicans are advancing. One of the bills would force Iowans to show a photo I-D before being allowed to vote. Turner says many low income and elderly Iowans would be forced to spend about 10 dollars getting a photo I-D because they don’t have a driver’s license. She calls that a “poll tax.” The other bill Turner dislikes would close the polls an hour earlier. It also closes early-voting centers in libraries. Turner says the bill would keep many Iowans from voting.
