[Iowa-dx] Iowans can soon register as Greens or Libertarians

[hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu]

Iowans can soon register as Greens or Libertarians

By JASON CLAYWORTH ? REGISTER STAFF WRITER ? November 15, 2007
Read Comments(1)

Iowans will have the opportunity, beginning in January, to officially =20
register as members of the Green or Libertarian parties, Iowa =20
Secretary of State Michael Mauro said Wednesday.

"It will give them an opportunity to identify their members," Mauro =20
said. "Right now, if you're anything other than Democrat or =20
Republican, you're listed as no party."

The third-party political groups sued the state in 2005, alleging the =20
government unfairly barred voters from registering with their parties.



State officials settled the lawsuit in July and agreed to allow =20
third-party groups a way to identify their voters.

Beginning Jan. 1, the state will begin to recognize "non-party =20
political organizations" on the state voter registration forms, which =20
will allow voters to identify themselves with the Green or Libertarian =20
parties.

For the most part, the new option on registrations doesn't immediately =20
change a lot in Iowa politics. The parties will continue, as before, =20
to be listed on the general election ballots. However, as before, they =20
won't be on primary ballots unless they meet certain provisions in =20
Iowa law such as obtaining at least 2 percent of the vote in the =20
previous statewide election.

Christy Ann Welty, the former Iowa chairwoman of the Libertarian =20
Party, predicted that their support would mostly come from people who =20
currently identify themselves as independent or no-party voters. She =20
doubts it would greatly weaken the state's Democratic or Republican =20
base.

"If they're signing up as Democrats or Republicans, that's probably =20
because they feel an alignment with those parties but Libertarians or =20
Greens don't feel that alignment," Welty said.

Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party in Iowa, described the =20
registration as "a big deal."

"It's kind of considered almost a rights issue ... it's very good for =20
organizing," Hart said.

Reporter Jason Clayworth can be reached at (515) 699-7058 or =20
jclayworth@dmreg.com

In your voice
Read reactions to this story


RevGreen wrote:
cool
11/15/2007 8:44 AM CST