Iowa Senate Bill SF341

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/23
• Refer: 2/20/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to voter records created and retained by the state commissioner of elections and county commissioners of elections.

Impact

The bill is set to impact state laws by establishing a clear protocol for maintaining voter records. By requiring the creation of a log for each vote cast in elections, which includes critical information like timestamps and voting methods while omitting personally identifiable information, it strikes a balance between transparency and privacy. This approach could fortify public confidence in electoral procedures by ensuring that information is systematically organized and readily available for verification.

Summary

Senate File 341 focuses on the management of voter records created and retained by state and county elections officials. The bill mandates that the state commissioner of elections must create and maintain a record of all information in the statewide voter registration database for voters who participated in an election. This record is to be preserved for a period of 22 months, promoting transparency in the electoral process. It also allows for public access to these records in an electronic format, facilitating accountability of the voting process.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding SF341 may arise from concerns over data privacy and security. While the bill aims to improve electoral transparency, opponents may argue that even anonymized data logs could reveal trends and insights that could be misused or exploited. The retention policy for 22 months might also be scrutinized, with some advocating for a shorter duration to alleviate concerns over data storage and handling. Overall, the discussions around this bill reflect a broader national dialogue regarding the balance between voter accessibility and the safeguarding of individual privacy rights in the context of elections.