MASON CITY – All across Iowa, ballots are already being cast as absentee voting for the November elections begins.
“Starting this morning in Iowa, just about every day for the next 40 is Election Day,” the Washington Post wrote.
“At 8 a.m. Central time, Iowa becomes the first swing state to begin early voting,” The Post continued, “meaning that voters can walk into any of the 99 county auditors’ offices or satellite polling places and cast their absentee ballots. They can also mail them.”
According to the Iowa Secretary of State, Iowans who are eligible to vote may cast an absentee ballot in person at your county auditor’s office before any election.
Other notes on absentee voting are:
You must vote your absentee ballot at the auditor’s office. You cannot take the ballot home with you.
For voters who need assistance in marking their ballots, an AutoMARK ballot marking device is available the county auditor’s office.
For primary and general elections, absentee ballots will be available no earlier than 40 days at the county auditors’ offices. For all other elections, ballots will be available as soon as they are ready.
In-person absentee voting is not available on election day at the auditor’s office unless the polls open at noon. If the polls open at noon, you may cast an absentee ballot at the county auditor’s office from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on election day.
Any registered voter in Iowa may request an absentee ballot through their county auditor.
- Download an absentee ballot request form
- Learn how to request an absentee ballot by mail
- Track Your Absentee Ballot
- Vote an absentee ballot in person
- Find out more information on satellite absentee voting
- Know the requirements for absentee voting at health care facilities
- Find answers to frequently asked questions
Have people received their ballots yet if they requested them a week or more ago?
This type of voting is being abused all over Iowa and should be more closely controlled. People use it just because they are to lazy to vote on election day and recruiters talk people in nursing homes into voting for their party by lies.
Matt, I’d rather see you post an absentee voter request form.
I was trying to help a friend from Kentucky request an absentee ballot to vote. In KY, there are strict rules about who can vote absentee ballot:
Mail-In Absentee Ballots
Question Who is qualified to vote an absentee ballot?
Answer
To be qualified to vote by mail-in absentee ballot, you must be:
Advanced in age, Disabled, or Ill;
Military personnel, their Dependents, or Overseas Citizens (For more information please review the Military and Overseas Citizen Page);
A student who temporarily resides outside the county;
A voter who temporarily resides outside of Kentucky and who maintains eligibility to vote in Kentucky, such as a “snowbird;”
Incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime; or
Employed outside of the county all hours the polling place is open.
People can go to the clerk’s office to vote by 12 days before the election if you meet some very strict guidelines:
You will be out of the county on election day
You are Military, their Dependents, or an Overseas Citizen (For more information, please review the Military and Overseas Citizen Page found on this web site.)
You are Military personnel confined to base and learn of your confinement within seven days or less of an election
You are a Student or resident who temporarily reside outside of the county
You are a voter or the spouse of a voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day
You are a pregnant woman in your third trimester
OR
You are the following:
Precinct election officer appointed to serve in precinct other than his own
Alternate precinct officer
County Board of Elections’ members
County Board of Elections’ staff
Deputy county clerk
State Board of Elections’ staff
To me, this is more of a disenfranchisement of voters than requiring a voter ID is. It is very difficult for some people to get away from home or work to vote.
I’d encourage all to vote out all the incumbents!
Let’s start with some fresh ideas.
Matt, can you post a Sample Ballot?