By Molly Roberts
The News
The general election is imminent but voters wishing to vote absentee in-person still have many opportunities before Election Day on Nov. 3.
Washington County voters can vote in-person at the Washington County Auditor’s Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The office will also be open for additional hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
Official ballot drop boxes are also available on the west side of the Washington County courthouse and are available 24-7.
Johnson County voters can vote in-person by driving, walking, or biking up to the parking ramp north of the Johnson County Health and Human Services building with the entrance off Clinton Street. Voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays with additional hours close to the election: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Johnson County voters can also return their completed ballots to the official drop boxes located south of the Administration Building and are available 24-7. There is also a selfie station set up on the east side of the building to give voters a chance to snap a picture to celebrate their vote.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2. Ballots may also be returned in-person at your auditor’s office before the polls close on Nov. 3.
Voters can track their ballot at sos.iowa.gov by inputting their name and birth date into the tracker, which will list the date their absentee ballot request was processed, the date the ballot was sent by the auditor, and the date the voted ballot was received by the auditor.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for voters wishing to cast their ballots in-person on Election Day. The Kalona precinct will vote at the Kalona Community Center; the Riverside precinct will vote at City Hall; the Wellman precinct will vote at Parkside Activities Center; and the Fremont-Lincoln precinct, which includes Lone Tree, will vote at the Lone Tree Middle School/High School.
Voters can find their polling place by visiting sos.iowa.gov and clicking the “Find my polling place” button in the center of the screen.
The deadline to register to vote online has passed, but Iowa voters can still register at the polls on Election Day. Those wishing to register at their polling place on Nov. 3 must provide proof of identification, such as a photo ID or passport, and proof of residence, such as a lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document.
If voters are unable to provide proof of identification and residence on Election Day, a registered voter from their precinct may attest for them. Both the voter and attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true. Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud, a class D felony punishable by a fine of up to $7,500 and up to five years in prison.
Questions regarding when and how to vote should be directed to the Washington County Auditor’s election line at 319-653-7717 or the Johnson County Elections Office at 319-356-6004.
