Senate Republicans are proposing new restrictions on state and local election officials after changes made for last week’s primary elections led to record turnout from early voting with absentee ballots. Secretary of State Paul Pate sent absentee ballot request forms to every registered voter in the state, urging early voting through the mail during the pandemic rather than in-person voting on Primary Day. The bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee late Friday night would forbid Pate AND county auditors from mailing out absentee ballot request forms in the future. Senator Roby  Smith, a Republican from Davenport, says he has certified letters outlining instances of voter fraud.

The bill also stipulates that no more than 35 percent of precincts may be closed on Election Day. Last Tuesday many county auditors dramatically reduced and consolidated voting sites for the primary. Republicans say that was unfair to Iowans who had to travel great distances to vote last Tuesday. The bill’s next stop is debate in the full Senate.