Pot times July 17, 2005

Iowa Felons Not Rushing To Vote

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1125/a10.html
Newshawk: Beth

Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jul 2005
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2005 Quad-City Times
Contact: opinions@qctimes.com
Website: http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Dan Gearino, Des Moines Bureau

IOWA FELONS NOT RUSHING TO VOTE

Tally Of Registrants Shows Little Interest In Vilsack's Order

DES MOINES - Iowa county auditors say there has been no flurry of registration for convicted criminals whose voting rights were automatically restored by the governor's Fourth of July executive order.

Instead, the commotion has been isolated to the political front, with Republican leaders continuing to blast Gov.  Tom Vilsack for signing the order and Democrats praising the move.

In Scott County, Auditor Karen Fitzsimmons, a Democrat, has had an easy time keeping a running tally of new registrants.

"We've had one person come in," she said.

"During the quiet times, we have just a few registrations per day.  And we haven't seen any boost to that," said Cerro Gordo County Auditor Ken Kline, a Republican.

Kyle Jensson, the Black Hawk County elections manager, also reported no hike in registrations.  She works in a Waterloo office overseen by Auditor Grant Veeder, a Democrat.

"I think people are kind of digesting it.  Although, down the road, I think you'll see people coming forward," she said.

Last month, the Iowa Secretary of State's office estimated that 58,000 people were banned from voting because of criminal convictions.  The office is compiling a new list that will reflect the broader eligibility rules.  Until that is complete, though, the office does not know how many voters are eligible to register to vote because of the order.

The order automatically restores voting rights for people who have completed prison, parole or probation.

Previously, those people had to petition the governor to restore their rights.  Most applicants did not gain approval unless they had completed their sentences and paid any fines or restitution.

Republican critics of the order say it takes away an incentive to pay restitution and they accuse Vilsack of seeking to expand the ranks of Democratic voters.

But Vilsack says the order puts Iowa in the nation's mainstream, joining 44 other states that have an automatic mechanism for restoring voting rights.

While the political debate rages, county auditors are content to stay on the sidelines.  Their position is an uncomfortable one because they are partisan elected officials, but they have a job that asks them to be nonpartisan.

"Our job is just to administer the law.  If someone comes in and wants to register to vote, we can't deny them that," said Woodbury County Auditor and Recorder Patrick Gill, a Democrat.