The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, is pleased to have the opportunity to comment on H.F. 304. The Federation has a long held position that Iowa should encourage as many citizens as possible to vote and make it as easy as possible for them to do so. We find that this legislation would move Iowa in the opposite direction and make it less likely that Iowans would vote and would make it more difficult to do so. Specifically:

1. The bill makes it more difficult for an early voter by limiting satellite voting locations to tax supported buildings. Current law allows the use of privately owned buildings (i.e. churches, malls and grocery stores) that has led to increased voter participation.

2. The bill changes the voter registration deadline from 10 days before the election to 20 days before the election. This provision simply makes it more burdensome to get registered.

3. This bill requires a person to vote at the polls one time before being able to vote absentee, thus disenfranchising first time voters who cannot get to the polls, such as students eligible to vote for the first time, but away at college, or military personnel.

Rather than making voting easier and more convenient and hence increasing voter participation, the bill would restrict voting. H.F. 304 is unnecessary and should be defeated.

kkc/opeiu28aflcio