Voters with disabilities can face challenges when heading to the polls, including difficulty finding transportation to polling locations, challenges accessing polling booths or filling out traditional ballots and anxieties surrounding the voting process that may discourage them from participating. But local groups in Johnson and Linn counties are working to make sure these barriers do […]
2016 Election
Posted inCommunity/News
Flip the ballot: Judicial retention and referendums
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This election season, it may be a challenge to look beyond the dramatic clash between the presidential candidates — but when heading to the polling booth, don’t forget to flip the ballot over. The back of the ballot contains public measures, the judicial retention ballot and candidates for nonpartisan offices like the soil and water […]
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Clinton aimed for women voters during NewBo City Market rally
With less than two weeks before Election Day, Clinton stood among a crowd in Cedar Rapids’ NewBo City Market to rally voters, especially women, and encourage them to take advantage of early voting opportunities. The girl power theme was hard to miss, from T-shirts declaring “Madame President” to the speeches from local female candidates and […]
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Donald Trump to stump in Cedar Rapids just hours after Hillary Clinton event
Donald Trump Rally McGrath Amphitheatre — Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. Both presidential candidates will be in Cedar Rapids Friday Oct. 28, hoping to garner votes. With only 11 days left until the election, Hillary Clinton will be at the NewBo City Market at 1:15 p.m. and Donald Trump will be at the McGrath […]
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New coalition to fight for felon voting rights in Iowa
Seventeen Iowa organizations have formed a coalition to pursue legislation and a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to Iowans with a felony conviction. Iowa is one of only four states with a permanent constitution voting ban for people with felony convictions, and one of only three states that require individuals to apply for a […]
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Hillary Clinton to encourage early voting in Cedar Rapids
With the election less than two weeks away, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be swinging through Cedar Rapids on Friday for an event aimed at encouraging women to vote early. The Women Win Early Vote Rally will be held in the NewBo City Market (1100 3rd St. SE). Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. […]
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Supreme Court, Washington gridlock key points in Grassley, Judge debate
Talk about the Supreme Court and gridlock in Congress dominated the debate last night between long-time Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge last night in Sioux City. Judge, a Democrat, is vying for the octogenarian Republican’s U.S. Senate seat, which he has held since 1981. The debate was civil, with Grassley […]
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Voting etiquette: Don’t take a selfie with your ballot
Nomophobes beware: When you go into the voting booth this election season, keep your phone in your pocket. In Iowa, it is against the law to have a cellphone, camera or other recording devices in the voting booth and ignoring that rule could get you into trouble. “One reason is your vote is private, it’s […]
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Felons struggle to regain voting rights in Iowa
Voting Rights For All Iowa City Public Library Room A, B, C — Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 from 7-9 p.m. Hosted by Inside Out Reentry and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County Tracy Gryp keeps a framed copy of her voting rights restoration certificate signed by Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2005. She stuck […]
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Loebsack, Peters agreed to disagree on role of federal government
Democrat incumbent Dave Loebsack faced off against Republican challenger Christopher Peters during a public forum on Monday in the race for Iowa’s second district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The two occasionally agreed on issues such as lowering costs by opening up competition for pharmaceutical drugs and reforming immigration. But they frequently disagreed […]
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Iowa House candidates discuss abortion, Trump, guns and healthcare
The two candidates competing for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives representing a swath of Johnson County answered voters’ questions on a range of issues including gun control, abortion and Medicaid during a Thursday night forum. Questions ranged from national to local issues, with both candidates occasionally agreeing about things like the importance […]
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Planned Parenthood president on presidential election: ‘Nothing is more important in the next 34 days’
Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, spoke on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a speech at an official Clinton campaign event in Iowa City on Wednesday. “Nothing is more important in the next 34 days,” Richards said, encouraging attendees to help with get-out-the-vote efforts as election day nears. In her speech to […]
