Voter Registration Questioned
What’s wrong with same day voter registration? Sen Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) asked. Why do we even need voter registration? We didn’t used to have it. What changed?
Answering his own question, Kibbie blamed the change on mischief elsewhere. “Chicago changed,” he said, apparently referring to corrupt voting practices by the Daley political machine years ago which prompted Iowa to begin registering voters.
Kibbie is right. The highest voter turnout is in states that allow same day registration. Two of them border Iowa (Wisconsin and Minnesota). Kibbie said barriers to voting should be removed. He obviously thought early registration was an unnecessary barrier for Iowa voters.
This is especially true now that provisional ballots are part of the process. If there is doubt about the status of registered voters, they may be required to fill out a provisional ballot. This same safeguard could be used in place of conventional registration.
Think how much money this would save. Auditors spend many hours keeping track of party changes, address changes, name changes, and registering new voters. But when you get to the polls, does anyone ask to see your registration card?
Senator Kibbie is co-president of the Iowa Senate. He made his comments Friday in Pocahontas, Iowa.