Legislators are looking to ensure that the votes Iowans cast electronically are also recorded on a piece of paper. Senate President Jack Kibbie, a Democrat from Emmetsburg, says it’s about ensuring every vote counts.
According to Kibbie, both political parties have agreed it’s a necessity. Kibbie hopes the state can provide the money for that "paper trail" so county taxpayers will not have to pick up the tab. Kibbie estimates it will cost a little more than three million dollars.
"The Secretary of State is working with the companies that these machines were purchased from to be able to trade in those machines and get the proper equipment," Kibbie says. Legislators have considered a variety of other election-related matters, like changing the state law which requires election workers to be either registered Republicans or Democrats — so Independent voters can work the polls. This past week, the legislature also passed a bill which would allow same-day voter registration — doing away with the state law which requires voters to register 10 days before an election.