Election Legislation Making It “Easy To Vote, Hard To Cheat” Passes In Iowa

“Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed significant election reform legislation on Monday. The new law decreases Iowa’s early voting period and closes polls an hour earlier on Election Day. State Sen. Roby Smith, a Republican, says the new law “enhances Iowans’ confidence in the elections in this state by implementing common sense reforms like providing a defined deadline on receipt of absentee ballots, aligning poll closing times for all Iowa elections closer to its bordering states, and bringing the absentee and early vote windows closer to the national average.’ ‘ . . .

‘In order for our republic to maintain the consent of the governed, they must have confidence in our election system,’ Smith says. In a statement released Monday, Reynolds said the new law will give “Iowans even greater confidence to cast their ballot’ and it will promote “more transparency and accountability.’ ‘It’s our duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of every election,’ Reynolds said, adding: ‘This legislation strengthens uniformity by providing Iowa’s election officials with consistent parameters for Election Day, absentee voting, database maintenance, as well as a clear appeals process for local county auditors.’” . . .

THINK.

In 43 states, over 250 bills have been introduced that are designed to strengthen state election systems and processes, showing that there is momentum for election reform at the state level. More news stories coming out demonstrate the need. Local officials in Texas, New Jersey, and Mississippi have been indicted on nearly 200 total election fraud charges, state attorneys general have announced in recent days. . . .

It’s no surprise that elections have consequences, which is why your vote is critical. Every 10 years, after a new census count, states adjust the boundaries of state legislative and U.S. House of Representatives districts to account for population shifts. . . .

As the U.S. population grows, the number of total districts does not increase in the U.S. House of Representatives. In fact, it sits, by a nearly century-old law, at 435 members. Those 435 seats are distributed among the states by a formula adopted in 1941 and administered by the Census Bureau. States that have grown the most gain seats, and states that grow slowly— or have even lost population — lose seats. Of the 10 new congressional seats expected this year, six are likely to be in Southern states, with one new one expected in North Carolina, two in Florida, and three in Texas. Republicans control the legislatures in those states, leaving them with say over what those new districts will look like — a contrast to other parts of the country where state governments are either divided or where nonpartisan commissions are tasked with redrawing congressional and state legislative lines. Some experts note Republicans could win control of the House in 2022 based on redistricting alone. Whoever controls the map-drawing wields enormous and long-lasting influence over the U.S. political system. . . .

PRAY.
Father God, I ask You to move powerfully in the hearts and minds of our legislators. Give them the knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and discernment to see and recognize how their votes impact their constituents. Give them the courage of Daniel to stand against any legislation that does not restrain evil or promote good. Cause them to know You are sovereign and that their first loyalty must be to You and not their political party.

ACT.
The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights that we as American citizens can exercise. Legitimate concerns exist about the fairness and accuracy of our elections and there need to be reforms. But dangerous and irresponsible federal legislation known as H.R.1 has now passed in the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. If it becomes law, it is certain this would undermine our election integrity forever and elections-related power would be unconstitutionally transferred from the states to the federal government. . . .

(Excerpt from My Faith Votes. Photo Credit: Unsplash.)