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ACLU files lawsuit in Iowa to fight challenge against estimated 2,000 voters

The ACLU filed a lawsuit naming Iowa Sec. of State Paul Pate as a plaintiff after naturalized Iowa residents reported being unable to vote due to outdated records.

SCOTT COUNTY, Iowa — The ACLU has filed a lawsuit naming Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate as a plaintiff, after four Iowa residents reported being prevented from voting due to outdated state records that inaccurately indicated they were not U.S. citizens. They are naturalized citizens, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges that these records impeded their right to vote, a situation the ACLU argues highlights a need for updated and accurate voter registration systems. The ACLU is urging the state to address the discrepancies and ensure that eligible voters are not wrongfully turned away due to outdated or incorrect information.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, two Iowa residents spoke at a press conference hosted by the ACLU of Iowa, sharing their experiences of being prevented from voting due to outdated state records. One, a naturalized citizen originally from Turkey and now a college professor, and another, a retired Iowa City attorney from Wales, were only permitted to use provisional ballots, which are not guaranteed to be counted.

"If you want to use a more recent example at the congressional level, Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her district by just six votes the first time she was elected. Even a small number like that could make a difference, especially in something as important as a congressional race, if not the presidential race," said Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa.

The ACLU’s complaint asserts that Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate relied on outdated Department of Transportation records, some more than a decade old, to issue a mass challenge against approximately 2,000 voters. The organization has requested court intervention, citing that the challenges disproportionately impacted naturalized citizens and potentially suppressed eligible votes.

Pate responded Thursday afternoon, stating that the names of over two thousand voters put forward for challenge have been reviewed by U.S. immigration officials. He claimed that the federal government is refusing to share the results of their review.

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