Election 2024: Iowa Secretary of State launches initiative to help veterans vote
The toolkit has resources on how to register, when you can vote, and where to find assistance
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) - There’s a new push to help make sure Iowa veterans make it to the polls, and for those who can, to volunteer on election day. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the effort Tuesday.
Pate’s office released the Iowa Veterans Vote Toolkit. It has resources on how to get registered, how to vote early and where to find assistance like curbside voting.
“With this new program, we hope to at least offer our thanks in one small, but mighty way. After your time fighting for our freedom to vote, it’s time that each of you have the confidence and resources to go forth and exercise that right to vote,” Pate said.
Pate says his office is giving the toolkit to veterans groups to help their fellow vets vote. “There’s about 12 major groups and a lot of other local groups as well that we are trying to empower with more resources. And we’re also trying to put a stronger and more louder voice on this initiative,” he said.
Todd Jacobus with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs says there are numerous ways veterans groups can help. “Help veterans access information to register, help veterans receive an absentee ballot, help drive veterans who can’t drive themselves to polling sites on election day,” he said.
Michael Young with the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars says that though many veterans’ service may have ended, they should serve in other ways. “Work as a poll worker. Go to a poll and be a poll watcher. Help your other veterans or members of your community get to a polling place,” he said.
Similar initiatives have been done before, but Pate says they still have work to do.
“Some of this has been done in the past, but we want to make sure we really bring a focal point to it because we’re still missing some people and we want to make sure they have the information,” he said.
Pate says by getting more veterans involved, it can increase trust in the elections process. He says veterans can remind people that they fought for their right to vote, and they should exercise that.
Read the guide:
Iowa Veterans for Voting Toolkit by connerhendricks3 on Scribd
--
Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
