Vote

Why Voting Matters: 7 Facts That Should Get You and Your Friends to the Polls: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/why-voting-matters-motivating-facts/?utm_source=social_twitter&utm_medium=Global+Citizen&utm_campaign=justvote&utm_content=justvote

League of Women Voters : voting and candidate information website, https://www.vote411.org/

Ballotpedia: information about candidates on the ballot  https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page 

Register to Vote

The Iowa Secretary of State is the commissioner of elections in the state. The SoS supervises the 99 county auditors, who deal more directly with elections and voter registration.

Voter Registration

The Iowa Secretary of State website includes a page devoted to voter registration.

• You can check to make sure you are registered to vote and check your polling place using a link on the SoS website.

• You can register on election day but it is easier for everyone if you pre-register.  If you wish to request an absentee ballot, it is necessary to pre-register.

• If you have a valid Iowa Driver’s License or ID Number, you can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at the O’Brien County Auditor’s Office.

Restored voting rights

On August 5, 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Executive Order Number Seven which serves as a restoration of voting rights for Iowans who had completed their felony sentences as of August 5, 2020. Additionally, EO7 states that Governor Reynolds will continue to issue restorations of voting rights on a daily basis for those who complete their sentence in the future.

There are exceptions for homicides and related crimes. Those individuals must still apply to the Governor for restoration.

More information can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State website.

VOTE EARLY

In Iowa, you can vote early in person in the Auditor’s office or designated location before elections. The early voting period varies depending on the election.  Please wear a mask to enter the building.

You can register and vote an absentee ballot at the same time

Make sure that you take along proper identification.

ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST (ABR)

Iowa does not require a reason to submit a request for an absentee ballot, so in effect, we have mail-in voting by request.  Some groups distribute forms in an effort to encourage you to vote. You can also print a form from the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/  Please submit just ONE request.

Ensure that your vote is counted! Have a plan to vote.  Laws regulating voting change. Read information at the Secretary of State's website for the most up-to-date information.

Absentee Ballots

• Absentee or mail-in ballots are rejected if required signatures are missing or don't match the one on record, or because the ballot arrives too late. 

• Mark your ballot, and then follow the instructions included with your ballot to return it in the postage-paid return envelope. It is vital that you utilize the return envelope supplied by the county auditor.

• Follow all of the directions carefully.  Sign the affidavit envelope as directed.

• It’s a good idea to complete the ballot and return it in the mail immediately after you receive it.  You can track your absentee ballot to make sure that it arrives on time at this website.  https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/absentee/search

• Instead of sending your ballot through the mail, you can drop off your ballot in the Auditor’s office. 

• DON’T put your ballot in the mail on election day. 

Early Voting - Absentee in-Person

• Early voting is done in person in the Auditor’s office during regular office hours, 8am-4:30pm, 

• Take your ID with you. (See information below.)

• Iowa law allows you to register and vote an absentee ballot at the same time.

Vote in-Person on election day:  https://voterready.iowa.gov/

• For the General Election, polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

• Take your ID with you. (See information below.)

• Voting locations: Use this precinct locator to find out where to vote and make sure you look under the heading for the appropriate election. https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

In-person voter ID

• An Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID. Voters who have neither are mailed an Iowa Voter Identification Card at the time they register to vote or update their registration. Contact the Auditor’s Office if you need a replacement voter ID card.

• Voters can also present a U.S. passport, U.S. military or veteran ID, or Tribal ID card or document.

• A voter without one of the approved forms of identity for pre-registered voters, may have the voter’s identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration Documents.

More Than 550,000 Primary Absentee Ballots Rejected In 2020, Far Outpacing 2016  https://www.npr.org/2020/08/22/904693468/more-than-550-000-primary-absentee-ballots-rejected-in-2020-far-outpacing-2016?utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social

Voting on Judges

The Iowa Bar Association website publishes background information and judicial evaluations on all judges in Iowa.
Go to the Iowa Bar Association website, https://www.iowabar.org/, click on the Publications tab, then select Judicial Evaluations from the menu on the right.
The document is a PDF.