A hearing is scheduled for Thursday to allow the public to weigh in on a new rule that establishes procedures for removing voters from registration rolls if they cannot prove citizenship.
The rule proposed by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and other civil rights groups. They say the rule intimidates voters and claim Schultz doesn't have the authority to pass such a rule without legislative approval.
The rule was first proposed on an emergency basis before the November election, but was temporarily halted by a judge after the ACLU filed a lawsuit to block it. The judge hasn't yet issued a final ruling, but Schultz now is moving forward with a permanent rule.
