Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to zach@new.iowastartingline.com.
Zachary Oren Smith
Latest from Zachary Oren Smith
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Judge to rule on SOS’ challenge list of 2,022 registered voters by Sunday
Naturalized citizens are asking a federal judge to rescind an order from the Iowa Secretary of State requiring them to jump through more hoops to have their vote counted. The judge could have a ruling by Sunday. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, is telling poll workers to require a list of 2,022…
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Iowa’s use of flawed data in voter challenges results in confusion, lawsuit
Despite known issues with driver’s license records, the Iowa Secretary of State’s voter challenges targeted 2,022 registered voters—including naturalized citizens who can legally vote. Ruth Toomer will be the first to admit that WHO 13 News is on a little loud in the morning. Last week, the family was getting ready for work: her husband…
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Iowa counties may have illegally processed ‘mass voter challenges’
A vendor says some Iowa counties are processing systematic voter challenges shortly before an election, an action that would violate state and federal law. The ACLU is raising the alarm. And records show, the Iowa Secretary of State is “strongly suggesting” those counties reverse course. The national ACLU and the ACLU of Iowa say counties…
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SOS Pate encouraged new citizens to vote. Now, he’s challenging their ballots
For years, Secretary of State Paul Pate told naturalized citizens to register to vote. But two weeks ahead of this year’s presidential election, he’s telling election officials to challenge the ballots of many of those same people who have since become citizens. Ten years ago, Secretary of State Paul Pate celebrated Constitution Day at a…
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Iowa challenges US citizens’ ability to vote
Iowa’s Republican Secretary of State has challenged a list of people he claims are ineligible to vote. Iowa Starting Line spoke with one person on that list, a US citizen who wonders why the state is challenging his right to vote. Just one day before the 2023 local election, Orçun Selçuk, an immigrant from Turkey,…
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Randy Meier, who protects Clinton Co. seniors from scammers, runs for Iowa House
Randy Meier of Clinton wants to protect Iowans from scams, and get more support for public schools and teachers. For the last 12 years, Randy Meier has worked to prevent senior fraud for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. He remembered one instance where a Clinton woman had sent over $200,000 to a scammer posing as…
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Iowa’s top election official says he has secret list of ineligible voters
A new email obtained by Starting Line offers a look into how the state plans to challenge more than 2,000 Iowa voters on Election Day. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is telling poll workers to challenge a list of certain voters on Election Day, and saying his office will prosecute them “to the fullest…
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3 key moments from Miller-Meeks, Bohannan debate
Catch up on last night’s Iowa PBS debate featuring U.S. Rep Mariannette Miller-Meeks and challenger Christina Bohannan. Iowa Starting Line digs into three key moments.
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Challenges pile up for Iowans with disabilities
Eight years after Medicaid privatization, Iowans with disabilities face 7-year waitlists, ‘forced poverty,’ and more. There are 402,615 Iowans who report having a disability, making up nearly 13% of the population. These Iowans face significant challenges in accessing the services they need to live and work. While Iowans largely regard themselves as compassionate and supportive…
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Iowa’s coming tax cuts wouldn’t cover current spending
The impact of Republican tax slashing is on the horizon as projections for state tax cuts dip below current state spending. The state is spending more money than it will be taking in under future tax cuts. Under Gov. Kim Reynolds’ leadership, the Iowa Legislature has cut income tax rates for individuals and corporations. Those…
