Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa, signs controversial law shortening early voting and polling day

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The legislation, which passed both Republican-controlled chambers of the state legislature last month, will reduce the number of early voting days from 29 days to 20 days. It will also close the polling stations one hour earlier on polling day (8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.).

The bill also imposes new restrictions on absentee voting, including prohibiting officials from sending candidates without a voter first requesting one and requiring ballots to be submitted. received by the county before the close of polling stations on election day.

“It is our duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of every election. This legislation strengthens uniformity by providing Iowa election officials with consistent parameters for Election Day, absentee voting, maintenance database, as well as a clear appeal process for local county auditors, “Reynolds said in a statement Monday.

“All of these extra steps promote more transparency and accountability, giving the Iowans even more confidence to vote.”

The new law prompted an immediate reaction from Democrats across the state, including a tweet from the Iowa Democratic Party stating, “We deserve better.”

“Rather than helping the Iowans keep food on the table and a roof over their family’s heads, @IAGovernor and the Iowa Republicans have instead chosen to speed up legislation that stacks the bridge in their favor and deprives the Iowans of their rights “, the tweet says.
Democratic Election Prosecutor Marc Elias also called the law “the first major crackdown since the 2020 elections” in a tweet and noted that legal action could be taken.

The law is part of a larger effort by GOP lawmakers across the country – including the battlefield states of Georgia and Arizona – to revoke access to the vote following the 2020 election. November elections saw a record number of early and posted voters, triggering baseless allegations of voter fraud by then-President Donald Trump and some of his fellow Republicans and ultimately leading to the deadly insurgency January 6.

Across the country, according to a February analysis by the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, at least 253 bills have been introduced this year in 43 state legislatures with provisions that would restrict access to the vote – more than six times the number of bills for the same time last year.

CNN’s Kelly Mena contributed to this report.



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