GOP sues Iowa county auditor over voting machine seal records

The committee says the auditor repeatedly refused to turn over records despite the secretary of state saying they are public.(CN) — The Republican National Committee sued an Iowa county auditor Thursday, claiming her office refused to let committee members watch document testing of election equipment or access records ahead of the midterms.After election staff performed pre-election testing earlier this month, the committee says Black Hawk County Auditor Karen Showalter wrongfully denied RNC representatives — attending as authorized public observers — access to personally record the security seal numbers.“Despite the provisions of law which guarantee the right of the public to witness logic and accuracy testing, and which obligate those in attendance to certify the sealing of tabulating equipment, the defendant refused to permit RNC representatives to photograph or otherwise document the seal numbers placed on tabulating equipment,” the committee says in the complaint.The RNC claims Showalter repeatedly refused to release seal records in follow-up emails from the committee, claiming the numbers were confidential under Iowa law and a 2018 resolution passed by the county board regarding security procedures.According to the committee, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate informed county auditors this week that documents related to “logic and accuracy” are public records — though Showalter again refused to provide the seal numbers.“The people of Iowa deserve transparency in their elections,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a press release. “Iowa’s secretary of state made clear these records are public, yet Black Hawk County still refuses to turn them over. We’re taking them to court. Republicans are on the ground, protecting the vote and making sure Iowans can trust their elections.”With Election Day fast approaching, the committee seeks court judgment ordering the immediate release of the records. It also requests Showalter pay a civil penalty and attorney fees for what the group calls an unlawful withholding.Leading up to elections, voting machines are tested to ensure tabulating correctly corresponds to the marks placed by voters on paper ballots and that the equipment rejects ballots where voters marked more choices than allowed.Iowa law mandates voting equipment is sealed following testing — accomplished by placing a “tamper-evident,” unique tag on the equipment, which lets election officials and members of the public know the equipment has not been altered between testing and Election Day.The RNC says observers may record the seal numbers through photographs or other forms of documentation to confirm themselves no tampering occurred, or that the tags were not switched.The committee says state law also requires those present for testing sign a certificate attesting to the tests’ performance and equipment’s condition.“Because the seals associated with logic and accuracy testing are public records and are not otherwise confidential, the defendant knowingly violated Iowa Code § 22.2 when she refused to permit inspection of them,” the committee says in the complaint.While Thursday’s action is narrowly focused on a public records dispute over equipment seal numbers, the conflict reflects an intense nationwide focus by political parties on election transparency.President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly and without evidence amplified claims of widespread voter and election fraud across the country in primarily Democratic-led jurisdictions, using federal investigations, voter roll demands and other means to target state voting procedures.Showalter did not respond to an initial request for comment.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads