The following is a legislative update from State Senator Amanda Ragan, representing Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties from Senate District 27:
Democracy requires citizen participation. The more folks get involved, the more government represents all of us.
Butler, Cerro Gordo and Franklin counties are home to 47,261 registered voters. How many of them can we get to vote in this fall’s local elections?
Casting your ballot in local elections has an immediate impact on your daily life. Local officials budget for education and roads, decide what can be built and where, set library hours and schedule your trash pickup.
Early voting for the November 5 local elections is getting under way. Do you know your polling place, issues on the ballot and candidate positions?
Here’s what you can do to prepare:
- Make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address. You can pre-register online or print off a voter registration form from the Iowa Secretary of State’s site. Return the completed form to your county auditor by October 25. If you miss that deadline, Election Day registrationis available. To register you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Iowa and 18 years old by Election Day.
- Decide when to vote.
o Early voting by mail. Submit an absentee ballot request form by 5 p.m. Friday, October 25. Your county auditor will then send you an absentee ballot, which must be voted and returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, or postmarked by Monday, November 4.
o Early voting in person. Cast a ballot in person at your county auditor’s office before Election Day. An accessible ballot marking device is available there for those who need it.
o Voting on Election Day. For the upcoming City and School Elections, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 5. Find your official voting location on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.
- You must have identification, or you’ll have to cast a provisional ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include an Iowa driver’s license, a U.S. passport and an Iowa Voter Identification Card.
If you have questions, contact your county auditor:
- Butler County Auditor – 319-267-2670, auditor@butlercoiowa.org, www.butlercoiowa.org.
- Cerro Gordo County Auditor – 641-421-3034, awedmore@cgcounty.org, www.cgcounty.org.
- Franklin County Auditor – 641-456-5622, auditor@co.franklin.ia.us, www.co.franklin.ia.us.