"Our progress in voting rights endures despite setbacks."

Ever since 1920, when American women finally gained the universal right to vote, we have seen an overall expansion of the vote. And that overall gain has not gone away.

Voting rights advocates have continued to remove other obstacles for voting, so that people can vote no matter their color, work obligations, family obligations, economic status, health, and ability physically to get to the polls.

In the 1960s, for example, we lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 so that young people who were old enough to be drafted and die for their country could also cast their vote.

However, after nearly a century of progress, we are now in an era of moving backwards in voting rights both in Iowa and nationally.

Politicians are once again erecting barriers that unnecessarily make it more difficult for you to cast your vote. They say that it’s to make sure that voting is secure—even though the number of documented invalid votes is less than one percent of one percent of all votes.

These setbacks are disheartening.

My involvement with the League of Women Voters has also taught me to take the long view and put in context our many gains, especially for those who can’t drive, have inflexible schedules, or who can’t navigate even the modest fees and hassles associated with additional documentation.

Here are some that stand out to me.

Over the past 15 years, we’ve made tremendous progress in Iowa in allowing more people with criminal convictions in their backgrounds to vote.

As recently as 2014, if you had even a mere aggravated misdemeanor, like stealing an expensive bike, you might not be able to vote.

Today, most people with a felony can cast their vote after they discharge their sentence.

Despite some recent restrictions being implemented, about 40 percent of Iowa voters continue to vote in advance by mailing or dropping off their ballot in advance or voting inperson at a designated location.

In 2007, Iowa became one of what is now just 23 states that allow voters to register the same day that they cast their ballot.

Since 2016, Iowa has offered this helpful option, with thousands of Iowans choosing to use it each year.

In 1990, Iowa became one of the first states to offer early voting, which is now widely offered across the county. It’s been troubling to see the number of days trimmed. But it remains an important option for many voters.

In fact, Iowa is currently one of only seven states that offers online voter registration, same day voter registration, early voting and nofault absentee voting.

To be sure, we need to continue to work to make sure every qualified voter can cast their ballot easily. But I also look back on the progress we have made in the past few decades, progress that has not been erased. I am optimistic that we’ll continue to make progress in the decades to come.

Photo courtesy of Mark Looney.