Iowa party leaders speak out about list of “foreigners” registered to vote

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Secretary of State’s allegations that 2,200 self-described foreign nationals are registering and voting in Iowa’s 2024 elections have Democrats questioning the validity and timing of the report, and the GOP chief says the storm is causing it “much ado about nothing.”

Secretary of State Paul Pate said his office has identified about 2,200 registered voters who identified themselves to the Iowa Department of Transportation as noncitizens with a driver’s license or non-driver identification card. Pate ordered counties to challenge those voters’ ballots to prove they were citizens.

During Friday’s hearing in federal court the federal government confirmed 250 names on the Iowa voter rolls they appeared to be noncitizens of the state. But he’s not yet sharing that list with Iowa officials.

However, DOT data is 24 years old and is often not up to date with current citizenship. So far, District auditors determined several dozen voters on the list as legal US citizens. This prompted The ACLU of Iowa and four citizens will file a lawsuit against the Secretary of State this week.

“I encourage Secretary Pate to put the names on that list on the list so that we can make sure that he gets a little help and that he tracks down these people so that we can make sure that these people who are citizens and the people who are on this list they have the right to vote in this election,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart told KCRG TV9.

“So I hope he can be a little more transparent about that.”

KCRG-TV9 News First at 4 p.m

Pate admits that not every one of the 2,200 names on his list is not a U.S. citizen. He flagged names that county auditors could use to require additional identification and the use of provisional ballots that won’t be counted until proof of citizenship is provided.

Pate said his office cannot use federal immigration records to check the list. Iowa senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst sent a joint letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services urging them to release the information immediately.

The ACLU and LULAC, the League of Latin American Citizens, are suing the Secretary of State’s Office.

“I saw what the ACLU said and it basically suggests that some current U.S. citizens will not be able to vote. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Iowa Republican Party.

“That’s why we have provisional ballots in this state.”

Kaufmann said he believes the organizations are filing suit in an attempt to collect money.

“Organizations try to get donations at the last minute because it’s difficult to give more dollars to the organization after the election. “I am absolutely convinced that this is what is happening with the Secretary of State.”

But Democrats say Republicans are playing politics with the electoral process at a time when a polarized electorate makes every vote count even more.

“Voter integrity is an extremely important issue and obviously it has received a lot of attention over the last few cycles. So I wouldn’t say I’m worried, but we definitely want to make sure every vote is counted,” Hart said.

“If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you shouldn’t vote,” Kaufmann said.

“I think it’s much ado about nothing. And once again, I cannot say enough, if you vote in a provisional ballot, your vote will be counted.”