Statewide Iowa — The two candidates running to be Iowa’s top election official for the next four years are quarreling over a variety of issues, including recent changes in absentee ballot rules and how to combat election misinformation.
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, the Democratic candidate, says Republican incumbent Paul Pate should have pushed back on the legislature’s move to shorten the early voting period from 40 to 20 days.
Pate, who is seeking a fourth term as Iowa Secretary of State, says Miller misrepresents the role.
Pate says Miller failed to follow state law in 2020 when he sent out absentee ballot request forms with Linn County voters’ personal information filled in.
Miller says more than 100 Linn County voters mailed their absentee ballots for the Primary this past June, but the ballots weren’t delivered by the new deadline.
Miller accuses Pate of failing to push back against people who dispute the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Pate says he is speaking out on a regular basis.
Pate and Miller made their comments during a joint appearance on “Iowa Press” that was broadcasted on September 16th on Iowa PBS.
