If Iowa Republicans have their way, the state will no longer require schools to teach voting statutes and procedures in high school government classes. Supposedly, the idea behind the bill is to increase students’ learning when it comes to American citizenship, the various levels of American government (from local all the way up to federal), and how those levels interact and work together.

The bill, introduced by Republican State Rep. Pat Grassley and referred to the state’s education committee on March 5, seeks to amend current state education curriculum requiring 5 units of social studies by removing the following:

“Instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring and casting an absentee ballot … The one-half unit of United States government shall include the voting procedure as described in this lettered paragraph and Section 280.9a.” [SOURCE]





It instead seeks to emphasize instruction on the U.S. Constitution and other facets of government, as well as instruction on citizenship, by stipulating that public schools will teach:

“The federal system of government; the overlapping features and responsibilities of the national, state, county, and local governments; and the tenets of American citizenship, including civility, mutual respect, political discourse, and appreciation of the common public concerns of Americans. The government instruction shall include an assessment of a student’s knowledge of the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and the principles of American citizenship.”

Civility and mutual respect, along with political discourse, are things that Republicans seem to have thrown out the window these days. As the party of rich white guys in danger of becoming obsolete, they’ve tried several measures intended to increase the share of Republican votes out there without working to reach out to more of the voting public. That list of measures includes certain voter ID laws, changing how electoral votes get allocated, severe gerrymandering, and restricting and even attempting to eliminate early voting.

Furthermore, this bill demonstrates a severe lack of understanding of simply being American: Voting in elections is part of the democratic process and a fundamental of democratic government. But it does require some basic education. Each state has its own voting laws, its own ballot, its own voting machines, and its own procedures for casting provisional and absentee ballots. To insist on teaching the principles of American citizenship without also teaching voting is hypocritical at best.

Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, had this to say about it:

“Grassley’s proposal flies directly in the face of Iowa’s proud tradition of voter participation. If he doesn’t think voting is a principle of American citizenship, then what is? Nothing is more fundamental to being American or Iowan than exercising our right to vote.” [SOURCE]

The problem for Republicans is that young people tend to vote Democratic, so, like everything else they want to try, if they can’t reach young people with their message, they’ll find ways to quietly discourage them from voting and hope that doing so increases their share of the votes.

Instead of resorting to these underhanded tactics, why do they not look at their message and the way they present themselves? It’s really quite simple; when your message is no longer working, you need to adapt it, or change it altogether. Their message is not working. Try adapting or changing the message.

Rika Christensen is an experienced writer and loves debating politics. Engage with her and see more of her work by following her on Facebook and Twitter, and check out her blog, They Need To Go.