Washington 

With the Nov. 3 general election approaching, voters will soon have the option to cast their ballots early. In-person absentee voting begins Oct. 14.

County auditors began accepting absentee ballot request forms Aug. 25. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 19, which is 15 days before the election. The county auditor will begin mailing absentee ballots Oct. 14.

To request an absentee ballot, voters must provide their name, date of birth, Iowa residential address and voter verification number. That number can be either an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID number or the four-digit PIN found on an Iowa Voter ID Card.

Voters can download an absentee ballot request form from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. The original, signed form must then be submitted to the county auditor.

In-person absentee voting will be available at the Washington County Auditor’s Office beginning Oct. 14. The office is generally open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

On Election Day, Nov. 3, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the county auditor no later than 8 p.m. that day.

Anyone with questions about voting or absentee ballots may contact the Washington County Auditor’s Office at 319-653-7715.