Julia Rendon is a retired minister in the United Church of Christ. As a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, she has shamed businesses into paying their workers back wages, shone a light on predatory lending practices, and pressured the governor to reinstate the summer food program for kids. As a Christian, she believes that every person matters and everybody should have a voice in our life together, which is why she is working for free and fair elections in November. 

As we head into the November election, we can’t take our strong history of free and democratic elections for granted. Not even here in Iowa. 

Take Joey Norris for example. 

Joey volunteered in the 2024 election counting absentee ballots in Montgomery County, a job he took seriously. So, he was surprised to get kicked out of the counting room after voicing concerns over how ballots were being counted. Among other problems, multiple ballots were initially improperly rejected. Joey correctly pointed out they should be counted. He walked away without incident. 

Fast forward to this July. A year and a half after the fact, Joey faces a felony charge for first degree election misconduct. After posting bail, he is awaiting his trial scheduled for October. 

The case has garnered little public attention despite serious implications for all Iowans. Our election process relies on poll workers to do the right thing – but in this case, a poll worker is being charged with a felony for rightfully asking questions. Aren’t poll workers who notice election rules being ignored supposed to speak up?

What’s more, the timing of the charges makes no sense. It took twenty months to arrest Joey. If he truly did “disrupt” the 2024 election, why has it taken Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office so long to build a case?

It’s also worth noting Joey is the former chair of the Montgomery County Democrats, as well as the nephew of John and Jackie Norris, two prominent Iowa Democrats. We’ve all seen how the Trump administration has tried to prosecute people for political reasons – is this same playbook coming to Iowa?

Every election, thousands of Iowans serve as poll workers. I have worked as a poll worker for three elections, and each time I have been amazed by the hard work of my neighbors to ensure our elections run smoothly.

Our elections here in Iowa are safe, secure and fair, thanks to the processes set out in state law. Every poll worker should feel comfortable pointing out any mistakes in the process they notice.

The Joey Norris case deeply concerns me, and it should concern anyone who cares about democracy. Iowans deserve answers, especially as we head into the midterm elections. I call on Attorney General Bird to explain why her office has chosen to pursue this flimsy case, and to drop the charges against Joey Norris. This is not how our democracy works and everyday Iowans will not stand idly by while poll workers – and our elections – are under attack.

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