DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa secretary of state is considering a signature verification system to help ensure voters are who they say they are.
The Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/QVGRhp ) that Secretary of State Matt Schultz on Monday said the idea springs from the general election earlier this month in which nearly half of Iowa's voters cast their ballots early or absentee.
Schultz says he'd ask state lawmakers to consider legislation based on Oregon and Washington procedures. Those states use a machine to read a signature on an absentee ballot envelope and verify it against the voter's signature on registration records.
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller says county auditors are working on a verification plan they'll present to the Legislature before the session begins in January.
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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/
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