The election reform bill we passed this year deserved Governor Vilsack’s signature and not his veto.  This bill is known as HAVA, (Help America Vote Act) and was a good bill. 

There were many compromises in the final draft and there appeared to be an agreement between the Governors office and the leadership in both the House and the Senate.  But one swoop of the veto pin brought that agreement to a halt.

In doing so Vilsack vetoed the opportunity to put together a new state planning commission that would write a budget using the federal money that the state receives.  This new commission is required to give priority to the counties rather than direct the monies to the state level for administrative costs.

After communication and negotiation with the Governor’s office and the Democratic Party the final compromise was proposed.  At several different points in the process we thought we had agreement.  Unfortunately, the Governor's office at the last minute backed away from the agreement.

The final election reform bill after amendment (HF 614) was passed by the House and Senate during the Special Session.  This bill included all of the required HAVA provisions, uniformly closed polls at 8:00 pm, and makes several changes, which tighten up voting by absentee ballot.  Absentee ballot changes include requiring an absentee ballot tracking device, clarifying who can turn in absentee ballots and when absentee ballots must be turned in.  It also includes new penalties for those individuals that knowingly do not follow the absentee ballot tracking procedure.

Finally, the bill establishes a new politically balanced HAVA state planning and implementation committee.  This committee would have been established to write the required HAVA plan that is to be turned into the federal government.  This plan would have include a budget that would require to give funding priority to counties.

Republicans did not get everything they wanted in the final compromise, they gave up on ID requirements; moving elections to the nonpartisan board; and many of the originally proposed changes to absentee ballots that we feel would protect the integrity of the voting process.

It currently appears that the State of Iowa will not receive the $30 million that has been authorized or originally promised from the Federal Government.  Instead, we will likely only receive approximately $18.5 million. (Information provided by the Sec. of State’s office and Sen. Grassley’s office.)

One concern is that when the Secretary of State updates his budget he will not cut funding for programs in his own office, even though the amount appropriated to his office was increased by over $37,000 this year, instead he will decrease the amount available to counties.

This is where, again, the Republican proposed and passed bill would help counties.

The State Legislature did not make the requested appropriation this year.  The House and Senate Republicans believed it was important to first pass a policy bill.  There has been money set aside in the RIIF account for a future appropriation.

It is important to protect the integrity of elections, which is why House and Senate Republicans proposed the changes that we did and that is why we tried to find a compromise.  Unfortunately, the Governor did not wish to find some kind of middle ground and a majority of the $5 million that the state has already received will be spent at the State level

On a lighter note, since my last newsletter my family and I have experience some of life’s joys and sorrows.  My oldest son, Josh and daughter in-law Christi celebrated the birth of their first child.  Jenna Renae Sands is doing fine as the new parents are adjusting to a third person in their lives.  Six days later we mourned the death of my mother, Juanita Sands.

The two experiences reminded us how precious life is and that we should not take life for granted.  It also reminds us what is most important in life, our faith, family and friends.

My mother was the City Clerk for the city of Fredonia for over thirty years.  The clerk for a small city is quite often the CEO, City Manager and bill collector all rolled up in one. On more than one occasion we have set down to a Sunday dinner only to be interrupted by a resident wanting to pay their garbage bill. 

Mom was dedicated to her community, church, friends and family.  We all will miss her greatly; I know that I already do. 

Until next time,

Tom Sands