Iowa Senate Wants To Close Voting Polls Early

I'm scratching my head over whomever the idiots are that think CLOSING VOTING POLLS an hour early is a good idea.

Those idiots would be your elected officials, if there was any room for doubt. And yes, the Iowa legislature is attempting to do just that.

Apparently the Iowa Senate thinks it's unnecessary to keep polling stations open till 9:00 p.m. so they've introduced a new bill, Senate Study Bill 1241, that would close voting at 8:00 p.m.

The Iowa League of Women Voters is just one group that doesn't think it's such a good idea.

According to Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport, the goal of the bill is to "ensure Iowa elections are “safe and fair.”

What a load of crap. The bill will only make it more difficult for certain citizens to cast their ballots.

Under the new rules, the polls would close for all Iowa elections at 8 p.m. Currently, polls remain open for statewide elections until 9 p.m.

The bill would also make these changes:

• State-owned buildings, with the exception of county courthouses, could not serve as satellite voting locations. In the past, I've voted at schools, libraries, and other polling places with no concerns. I can't imagine why this would even be an issue?

• Absentee ballots would be required to be received by the auditor by Election Day. Current law allows absentee ballots to be received and counted so long as they were postmarked by the day before Election Day. So you'd better hope the U.S. mail doesn't get delayed, like that ever happens!

• College students would be given a form that would ask whether they plan to live in or outside Iowa upon graduation, and those who indicate they plan to live outside Iowa would be removed from the voter registration list...OK, now I see it.

One might get the idea that our elected officials are trying to make it tougher for younger voters, and those voters of color or of limited income and mobility, to participate in the election process.

And they're wrapping it up in an American Flag to "ensure" everything is SAFE and FAIR.

Trust me, it is neither.