• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / House GOP pushes voter ID

House GOP pushes voter ID

January 27, 2011 By O. Kay Henderson

Republicans in the Iowa House have endorsed the idea of having Iowa voters show a photo I.D. before they may cast a ballot on Election Day.

Representative Jeremy Taylor, a Republican from Sioux City, said it’s about ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

“All it takes to support this bill is the acknowledgement that the possibility of fraud or impersonation exists,” Taylor said.

Democrats like Representative Bruce Hunter of Des Moines suggested the policy would make voting more difficult for minorities, the elderly and disabled Iowans who don’t have an I.D.

“We are talking about ways to keep honest people from voting,” Hunter said. “And that’s a shame because that’s all this bill is — a Jim Crow-style voter suppression bill.”

Representative Deborah Berry, a Democrat from Waterloo — an African American, said 11 percent of Iowans don’t have a photo I.D. — many because they’re too old or too poor to have a car.

“Sometimes we look at things through our middle class, upper middle class and wealthy eyes, but we don’t really think about those people who are the least of these,” Berry said.

Representative Gary Worthan, a Republican from Storm Lake, said with the right to vote comes responsibility.

“If you’re not willing to accept that responsibility, put in a little effort on your own part to go out and get a photo I.D., study the issues, register — that doesn’t say a whole lot about your interest in your government and what’s going on around you,” Worthan said.

Republican Matt Schultz, Iowa’s new secretary of state, campaigned on the idea, saying if Iowans have to show a photo I.D. to board a plane or buy booze, they should show an I.D. to vote. 

The bill passed the House on a 60-to-40 vote, with every Republican voting for it and every Democrat voting against it. The bill faces a dim future as Senate Democrats do not have plans to pass it.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Legislature

Featured Stories

Grundy Center man sentenced to life for killing State Trooper

Jodi Husientruit remembered 27 years after she disappeared

Iowa Supreme Court rules in Mahaska-Marion County regional airport dispute

Pheasant harvest and hunter numbers both up this year

Iowa Supreme Court overturns ruling creating constitutional abortion right

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/27/22

AJ Green signs with Milwaukee

Iowa to host Georgia Tech in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Iowa State adds a defensive back

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/20/22

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC