Iowa's Medicaid System Faces Allegations of Violating Federal Law, Potentially Impacting Voter Registration Access for Low-Income Residents

Advocates Decry Health Department's Compliance Issues with the National Voter Registration Act

In a potential violation of federal law, Iowa's Department of Health is under scrutiny for allegedly failing to comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), leaving a significant number of low-income Iowans off the voter rolls. Advocates argue that the state's Medicaid system is not adequately offering voter registration opportunities, raising concerns as the 2024 election approaches.

The NVRA and Iowa's Compliance Issues

Compliance Concerns Raise Alarms

Advocates, including Brenda Wright from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, assert that Iowa's health department is in major noncompliance with the NVRA, a 1993 law requiring state agencies to provide voter registration opportunities to their clients. During the 2021-22 election cycle, only 0.1% of Iowa's new voter registrations came from public assistance programs, significantly lower than the national average of 3%.

Challenges in Medicaid Renewal Process

Voter Registration Opportunity Buried in Mailers

Iowa's approximately 860,000 Medicaid recipients face renewal each year, with the state sending renewal mailers to all recipients. However, advocates argue that the voter registration opportunity is buried in the ninth page of an 11-page mailer, violating the NVRA, which requires the offer at all transactions with the agency.

Inadequate Voter Registration Information

Insufficient Assistance and Compliance Failures

The renewal mailer directs recipients to an online form with no additional voter registration information. Experts argue that this fails to comply with the law, as it lacks necessary assistance and doesn't provide a physical form, disadvantaging those who cannot download and print the form themselves.

Long-Standing Compliance Issues

Advocates Highlight a Decade of Noncompliance

Advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Iowa and Disability Rights Iowa, raised concerns about voter registration services a decade ago, with a letter sent to Secretary of State Paul Pate. Despite awareness, the issues persist, prompting questions about the steps taken in response to the 2015 letter.

Experts Weigh In on Compliance

Legal Experts Confirm Violations

Legal experts, including Sarah Brannon and Lisa Danetz, renowned for their work in voting rights, confirm that Iowa's voter registration language on renewal and application forms violates the NVRA. Failure to ask clear yes/no questions about voter registration and insufficient assistance further compounds compliance issues.

Impact on Voter Registration Rates

Low Registration Numbers Linked to Compliance Failures

Advocates suggest that Iowa's compliance issues may contribute to the state's low voter registration numbers from public assistance agencies. The decline over the past decade, from over 10,000 to 1,560 registration applications, aligns with changes in Medicaid signup processes, potentially disenfranchising tens of thousands of citizens.

National Landscape and Potential Solutions

Contrasting Approaches and the Path Forward

While Iowa faces accusations of violating the NVRA, other states have successfully increased registration rates by taking appropriate steps. Alabama witnessed a significant jump after signing an agreement with advocacy groups, while Kentucky's proactive voter access measures resulted in over 88,000 registration applications during the last cycle.

Calls for Investigation and Reform

Advocates anticipate that increased awareness of Iowa's compliance issues may prompt further scrutiny from advocacy groups or even the U.S. Department of Justice. With potential legal implications, calls for reform echo through the state, urging authorities to address the systemic failures in the voter registration process.