It's GOOD to  Early

Get Your Iowa Absentee Ballot Here!
by Linda Thieman

Conventional wisdom tells us that this year, the party that brings in the most absentee ballots will be the party of victory.  And casting an absentee ballot is easy to do since no witness or notary public is required during any part of the process.

Also, because we're going to need so many people to volunteer as poll watchers, it's good to bank your vote and not have to worry about it on Liberation Day, er, I mean Election Day, November 2.

This year, because of a new state law, there is no early time limit set for requesting absentee ballots, so you can go ahead and do it now.

Plus, one last argument: paper ballots.  No matter which Iowa county you live in, EVEN ONE THAT USES UNRELIABLE PAPERLESS, TOUCH-SCREEN VOTING MACHINES like Clay County, by voting early and by voting on a PAPER absentee ballot, you can rest assured that your vote will actually COUNT.


**Click here to download your Iowa absentee ballot request form.  You then send it in to your county auditor's office at the courthouse.


**Click here to get the address of your county auditor.  Just find your county on the map of Iowa and click on the map.     


Are You Registered To Vote?

If you have not yet registered to vote, click here to download an Iowa voter registration form.  According to the information provided on the Iowa voter registration form, "the deadline to register to vote is 10 days before a primary or general election and 11 days for all others. You may register after a deadline, but the registration will not be effective until after that election. A registration form postmarked at least 15 days before an election will be accepted for that election even if it is received after the deadline to register to vote. Registration is permanent. After you register, you do not have to register again unless you move."


Iowa Absentee Ballots at Record Numbers
WHOTV.com

Election offices are getting a record number of early requests from people hoping to skip the ballot box....Iowa's a "no excuse" voting state.  You don't need an excuse to get an absentee ballot that allows you to vote without going to the polls, and more people than ever before want to make sure you don't have an excuse not to vote.

...Democrats usually lead in the absentee voting efforts.  Nearly three quarters of the requests so far in Polk County are for Democratic voters, but Republicans are really just starting their early vote efforts, so [Polk County Auditor Michael] Mauro figures the difference will tighten up as we get closer to election day.

How do other counties compare when it comes to absentee ballots?  2,100 ballot requests have been filed in Dallas County for the upcoming election, nearly 2,200 in Warren county, and in Story County, 4,300 absentee ballots have been requested.

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