Big turnout opposes Schultz's voter intimated rule

CCI members tell Secretary of State Matt Schultz to throw out proposed voter rules

 Secretary of State Matt Schultz’s witch hunt for non-existent voter fraud was put on display Thursday, January 3 at a public hearing on the proposed voter rule which would require immigrant voters whose citizenship is in question to prove their citizenship to vote.Citizen groups including LULAC, ACLU, AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, and others stood together and called out Schultz’s blatant attempt at suppressing the vote. 100 people, 40 who testified, made powerful statements to why the rule should be thrown out – Schultz is overreaching his authority, wasting taxpayer dollars pursuing non-existent voter fraud and intimidating immigrants who have a legal right to vote.CCI member, Ana Mancebo, naturalized citizen from Nicaragua and Des Moines CCI member said “We do not come here to commit voter fraud. It's a nonexistent problem. It's a problem you invented and now you want to make it our problem. Put an end to this witch hunt for voter fraud."After the hearing, 20 CCI members delivered a letter to Secretary Schultz asking for a meeting on January 15 to discuss his attempts to suppress the vote and to stand up for all eligible voters by finding ways to make it easier to vote by passing universal voter registration. 

What’s next?

This fight will continue into the legislative session and will mostly likely be an election issue. It’s important for us to continue demanding this rule be thrown out. 

 Want to see the awesome press coverage from the hearing?

Des Moines Register - Basu: Iowans keep public officials accountable at voter hearing

Des Moines Register - Criticisms of proposed voter fraud rules aired at hearing

Des Moines Register - Hearing raises concerns about voter verification rules

Radio Iowa - Controversial rules to remove non-citizens from voter registration rolls

Associated Press - Speakers oppose planned voter registration rules