Be “Voter Ready”: Transition to New Voter ID/Election Integrity Law begins with 2018 elections

Voters are asked to be “Voter Ready” in 2018. Being “Voter Ready” can be as simple for voters as the three steps below:

1. Register to Vote: Be registered to vote by the pre-registration deadline*, and have your current address on your voter registration.
2. Bring your I.D.: Acceptable forms of I.D. include Iowa driver’s license or non-operator I.D., a U.S. passport, a veteran’s I.D., a military I.D. or a Voter I.D. card*.
3. Cast your ballot.

Beginning in 2018, all voters will be asked to show a form of I.D. at the polls when requesting to vote. The year 2018 is the “soft rollout” period for some recent election law changes. “Soft rollout” means if a voter cannot or chooses not to show one of the acceptable forms of I.D. when requesting to vote in 2018, the voter will be required to sign an extra Oath of Identification, and be allowed to cast a regular ballot.

The goal of asking for I.D. in 2018, as a “soft rollout”, is to help prepare voters for 2019 when an I.D. is going to be required in order for a voter to be allowed to cast a regular ballot. Beginning in 2019, if no I.D. is shown, the voter will be required to cast a provisional ballot*.
*-further explained in Q&A

Some frequently asked questions, and their responses, are printed below:
 

Q: When are the pre-registration deadlines for the 2018 elections?
A: For the June 5, 2018 Primary election the deadline is Friday, May 25 and for the November 6, 2018 General election the deadline is Saturday, October 27.

Q: What is a Voter I.D. card?
A: In December 2017, the Secretary of State elections office mailed out a Voter I.D. card to any registered Iowa voter not having an Iowa drivers license or non-operator I.D. This Voter I.D. card has a PIN number on it, which is required on an absentee ballot request form. The Voter I.D. card is also one of the acceptable forms of I.D. at the polls.

Q: What is a Provisional Ballot? Does it count?
A: Provisional ballots are cast by voters who do not meet all requirements to vote a regular ballot at the polls. Provisional ballots are presented to the Absentee and Special Voters Precinct (ASVP) Board following election day. This ASVP Board considers the reason each provisional ballot was cast, and determines whether the ballot should be counted.

Those voters required to cast a provisional ballot for reason of not having or not showing an I.D. at the polls will have until noon the Monday following the election to go to the Allamakee County Auditor’s office and show proper I.D. to qualify their ballot to be counted.

For additional questions regarding the content of this article or other election questions, contact the Allamakee County Auditor’s office at 563-568-3522.