Pauline “Kay” Myers, 90, proudly cast her ballot alongside her son, Bruce. She died hours later, and now her vote won’t count under Iowa law.
The big picture: Her story highlights a little-known Iowa law that can disqualify ballots legally cast by voters who die before Election Day.
Catch up quick: Myers, the former executive director of the Iowa Nurses Association, voted with her son Oct. 16, just two days after early voting began.
- The two then shared lunch at her assisted living facility and spent time together before Bruce left around 1pm.
- About three hours later, the facility called Bruce to report his mother had stopped breathing. She died five days before her 91st birthday.
The catch: Despite casting her ballot legally, Myers’ vote won’t count under an Iowa law that requires it to be rejected if election officials receive proof of a voter’s death before opening the ballot envelope.
- Election officials regularly check state and federal death records, and published obituaries are sufficient proof, Iowa Secretary of State spokesperson Ashley Esquivel Hunt tells Axios.
Flashback: Myers was also the driving force behind Myers Park, a new Sherman Hill playground named in honor of her family’s philanthropy, Bruce tells Axios…