March 29, 2024

Anderson’s ‘Safe at Home’ plan is long overdue in Iowa

From Monica McCarthy, chairman, Union County Democrats

Creston

Secretary of State candidate Brad Anderson has proposed a plan to help protect survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault that is long overdue here in Iowa. It is known as “Safe at Home.”

Today, it’s difficult for these survivors to keep their home address confidential in Iowa. While 35 states have already implemented similar plans, including our neighboring states of Missouri and Minnesota, Iowa has lagged behind.

This is a simple program that gives participants a substitute address that they can list on state and local forms instead of their real address. This helps keep their location confidential, and keep them and their family out of harm’s way.

The program has the added benefit of making it more likely that these survivors will participate in elections. It allows them to list their substitute address on voter databases. The Secretary of State’s office will work with local election officials to ensure confidentiality. Now they will have the freedom to express their right to VOTE.

Brad Anderson knows that everyone deserves a voice and is willing to take the initiative to address loopholes like this in Iowa law. That’s why I am supporting Brad Anderson as our next Secretary of State.