DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state commission overseeing voting is moving forward on a proposed rule that would start online voter registration in Iowa.
The Iowa Voter Registration Commission held a public hearing Tuesday on the rule that would let qualified voters with a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation to register to vote on a website.
It’s a process used in 17 other states. Commissioner Charlie Smithson says it will benefit 94 percent of the population of Iowa with minimal cost.
Voter rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa asked at the hearing for changes in the rule. The groups believe requiring a license or photo ID to register online isn’t fair to minorities and the elderly who may not have DOT-issued documents.
