[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1131-E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING IOWA'S ELECTION POLL WORKERS AS IOWANS OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to join me in recognizing each and every one 
of the volunteer poll workers who helped with this general election as 
our Iowans of the Week.
  Iowans have long prided ourselves on how we engage the democratic 
process. For us, that means a lot more than simply casting a ballot 
every so often: it means really getting to know candidates and elected 
officials, attending town halls to ask questions and voice opinions, 
keeping up with the news, encouraging our friends and neighbors to get 
involved, and consistently turning out to vote. To boil it down, Iowans 
believe participation is key when it comes to government and politics.
  As positive cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Iowa, state and 
county election officials had to find a way for Americans to cast their 
ballots safely, reliably, and on time. I'm proud to say they did so 
successfully, and that feat required more than 10,000 everyday citizens 
to step up and participate as volunteer poll workers throughout early 
voting and on Election Day.
  These volunteers took time away from work, school, and home during 
the week and on weekends to give back to their communities. While they 
came to the table with their own political beliefs and values, they all 
worked together in a nonpartisan way to make the day run smoothly. As 
the risks of COVID-19 kept many older volunteers at home this year, 
Iowa saw more high school students and young adults sign up to fill the 
gaps. For weeks prior to November 3rd, individual county election 
offices planned and held dozens of trainings for volunteers to learn 
the ropes of being a precinct election official. On Election Day these 
volunteers staffed more than 1,600 precinct voting locations across the 
state, many working fifteen-hour shifts from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. to make 
sure every Iowan who wanted to could cast a ballot.
  While working early voting sites and election day locations, they 
wore personal protective equipment like masks, face shields, and gloves 
and continually wiped down voting machines and frequently touched 
surfaces to ensure their neighbors could participate with minimal risk. 
They made sure Iowans visiting the polls had masks and hand sanitizer, 
knew where to go and what to do once they got there, and made sure the 
environment was safe and welcoming for all.
  Elections that are free, fair, safe, and secure are the foundation of 
our nation's democracy. Maintaining that standard requires consistency, 
careful planning, and ongoing collaboration each cycle. I would be 
remiss if I did not thank election officials at the state and county 
levels for their tireless work to make the 2020 general election run 
smoothly across our state. The amount of work that goes on behind the 
scenes by these individuals is staggering. I also want to commend 
everyone who made their voices heard by casting a ballot this fall; 
their participation is how we move society forward.

[[Page E1132]]

  Finally, I'd like to again extend my gratitude to the thousands of 
volunteer poll workers in central and southwest Iowa who stepped up to 
serve their communities and our democracy. They have performed an 
essential civic duty to ensure their neighbors could safely participate 
in record numbers, and they did so while dealing with a global 
pandemic. Their efforts and dedication are a true reflection of Iowa 
values, and I'm proud to name them Iowans of the Week

                          ____________________