Lawmakers push election bill to change absentee voter ID, election funding laws

Iowa would see new absentee ballot voter identification requirements, statewide recount procedures and restrictions on private money funding elections under a proposal zooming through the Iowa House and Senate.

It’s the latest in a series of election changes passed by Republicans: House Study Bill 719 comes just one year after Republicans passed a wide-ranging election reform bill that shortened absentee voting windows, restricted ballot drop-boxes and introduced a new penalty for auditor misconduct.

Subcommittees in the House and Senate approved the bill Wednesday, and the House State Government Committee passed it Wednesday evening. Sen. Roby Smith, leader of the bill in the Senate, said he expects the bill to move through the Senate State Government Committee on Thursday.