The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Efficiencies are often found in times of crisis. Last week's primary election in Iowa was evidence of that.

More than 520,000 votes were cast, shattering the previous record of 449,490 set in 1994. Despite unprecedented obstacles, it was a smooth and secure election thanks to loosened restrictions on absentee voting made by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate.

"This election was a terrific example of counties, state agencies and the federal government working together to ensure Iowans could vote safely," he said this week in a statement. "Congress and President Trump made funds available through the Cares Act that allowed us to provide personal protective equipment and other resources to the counties. Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa National Guard delivered masks, gloves and hand sanitizer so Iowans could vote safely at the polls."

You might wonder, then, why a certain Iowa legislator is trying to cut down that success at the knees.

Last week Iowa Republican state Sen. Roby Smith introduced legislation seeking to amend the process that made absentee voting easier. According to the Quad City Times, his bill would undo emergency actions taken in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to minimize risk to the voting public, Pate, also a Republican, sent absentee ballot request forms to every active registered voter in April. As noted above, absentee voting rates surged.

If passed, Smith's bill would allow the secretary of state to make changes to election processes in the case of weather or wartime emergencies, but not for the current pandemic. The Times' article notes that anyone requesting absentee ballots or voting early would be required to provide voter identification. Smith's amendment also would prevent Pate from making changes to early or absentee voting in the time of an emergency.

To put it lightly, the bill is nuts. Why would you choose to regulate something that works? Why would you want to restrict Iowa citizens from voting from home during a pandemic? Doing so endangers lives.

The proposal has sparked confusion and outrage from both sides of the political aisle. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic uncertain, county auditors and state officials like Pate will likely have to rely on eased election rules to make November's vote a go. Restricting the ability to do undermines the democratic process, plain and simple.

We'd all love to have a traditional election in November with the normal number of polling stations in each county. That seems incredibly unlikely given the circumstances, and the success of last week's primary speaks for itself. Smith's bill deserves the fast track to a trashcan. By giving it momentum, state lawmakers will be spitting in the face of public safety, voter turnout and the democratic process.