DES MOINES, Iowa — In November of 2020, Iowa voters shattered voting records for turnout across the state, boasting more than 75% of total voter turnout. November 2024’s general election did not exceed that record, but it got close at just over 74%.

Over the last four years, the state saw voting law changes because the Republican majority saw them as loose. In 2021, a law passed through the Iowa Statehouse that only allowed county auditors to have one absentee ballot drop box at their office. The law also shrunk the time voters could cast absentee ballots in person at the local county auditor’s office. Iowa Democrats viewed the law changes as restrictive, with the state just getting the highest voter turnout on record the year before.

Iowa’s Secretary of State said that the messaging from candidates is what causes higher or lower turnout amongst voters.

“It’s really based on the candidate and their messaging, I mean we all see that everyday and unique circumstances might arise during that election cycle. So, that’s why I always think they need to put a footnote when we put down here are the totals for each election; the footnotes is what transpired during that window so people can better understand why some of those trends are what they are,” said Paul Pate, (R), Iowa Secretary of State.

The list of potential noncitizens released to counties by Pate’s office called into question the protection of voting rights versus protection of election integrity. Pate said he is going to be bringing legislation this session to attempt to give the state more access to that information when registering people to vote.

“I’ve been working with legislators for some time on this. We’ve been looking at, to see, how it’s being handled in other states as well. When we’re looking at how the courts are treating it. We also have to work with our county auditors to make sure logistically, you know, work in a smooth fashion and efficiently. So all of those are variables,” said Pate. “But yes, I hope to offer up something on that issue, as I’m sure the legislature will.”

Pate didn’t go into much detail as to what a proposed bill would look like, he also mentioned there may be a couple of other election-related policy pieces introduced by his office this session.

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