County auditor questions Iowa secretary of state's decision on voter challenges

DECORAH, Iowa (KCRG) – The Winneshiek County Auditor questioned the timing of the Iowa Secretary of State’s orders to challenge ballots from a list of potential non-citizens.

Secretary of State Paul Pate said his office has identified about 2,200 registered voters who identified themselves as noncitizens on a driver’s license or nondriver ID with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Pate ordered counties to question those voters’ ballots to prove they are citizens.

However, that DOT data dates from 24 years ago and is often not current with current citizenship. So far, County Auditors identified it dozens of voters listed as legal U.S. citizens. That was the reason for the Iowa ACLU and four citizens will sue the secretary of state this week.

Winneshiek County Auditor Benjamin Steineswho is a Republican is also named in that lawsuit. He said his office has received the order for nine registered voters, three of whom have already voted absentee. Steines says his office must follow the secretary of state’s orders and has challenged those ballots, requiring voters to prove their citizenship.

Steines said the law requires his office to follow Secretary of State Pate’s orders and that he supports efforts to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in elections. He does not agree with the directive.

“I do not agree with the process and procedures currently being directed by the Secretary of State, particularly regarding the timing and attempts to implement this too close to the elections,” Steines said in a written statement . “Current procedures create additional burdens for both naturalized citizens and election workers.”

Pate’s Office has pointed the finger at the federal government. Pate says U.S. Customs and Immigration has blocked his efforts to confirm citizenship. Iowa Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst have done just that sent a letter urging the USICS to comply with Pate’s request.