OSKALOOSA — Election day is next Tuesday. Election officials in Mahaska County offered some useful tips and notes for people who plan to go to the polls on Tuesday.
How can you be Ready on Election Day? Check your Voter Registration at https://tinyurl.com/IASOSVOTE. Have an Iowa Driver’s License or non-operator ID? Go online to register or update your voter registration at: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html. All voters are required to show their ID before voting.
What if I go to the polls and they tell me I can’t vote because I requested an absentee ballot? You can surrender your unvoted absentee ballot to the election officials at your precinct. If you requested an absentee ballot by mail and did not receive it or do not have it with you, the precinct official will ask you to fill out a form saying that you did not receive an absentee ballot. You can then vote a provisional ballot, which will be put into an envelope. On Thursday, November 7 the Special Precinct Board will consider provisional ballots.
What do I do if I have moved since the last time I voted?
Take a current picture identification with your current address with you. You will be asked to complete a voter registration form with your new address, and you can vote in the usual manner. If your ID is not current, call the Auditor’s office (641)673-7148 for additional instructions.
What if I go to the polls and they tell me I am at the wrong precinct?
You will be instructed where your correct voting precinct is located and vote there.
What if I go to the polls and they tell me I am not registered to vote?
You can register to vote at the polls on Election Day. You will be required to show proof of residency and proof of identity. The best form of ID is a valid Iowa driver’s license with your current address. If your Iowa driver’s license has an old address on it, please contact the Auditor’s Office (641) 673-7148 for additional requirements.
Can another voter attest for me if I do not have proof of residence or identity?
If you do not have proof of residence and identity, a registered voter in your precinct may attest to your identity and residence. The attester may not attest for more than 2 people and was not attested for in this election. The attester must show a current photo ID.
If you have a registered voter in the precinct attest to your residence and identity, you will both be required to sign an oath. Falsely attesting or being attested for is a class “D” felony.
If you do not have proof of residence or identity and do not have anyone who can attest to your residence and identity, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. You will have until noon, Tuesday, November 12, to present the proper ID information in the Auditor’s Office. The special precinct board will convene Wednesday, November 13 to consider provisional ballots.
- Q. Can I pick up or request a ballot for someone else?
- Recent legislation, Senate File 413 prohibits County Auditors from sending absentee ballot request forms to voters unless a voter specifically asks for one. Third parties (such as political parties and voter engagement organizations) may still send absentee ballot request forms to voters, but fields cannot be prepopulated aside from Election Type and Date of Election.
- Can someone else return my absentee ballot for me?
YES, with restrictions. Only those who meet the criteria listed below are allowed to return absentee ballots. – The voter.
– Someone living in the voter’s household.
– An immediate family member (fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity)
– A special PEO delivering a ballot as it relates to health care facilities.
– A delivery agent if the voter is unable to return a ballot due to blindness or other disability.
o A delivery agent must return the ballot in person, not by mail or drop box.
o A delivery agent cannot return more than two absentee ballots per election.
o A delivery agent cannot be the voter’s employer or agent of the employer, an officer or agent of the voter’s union, or an actual or implied agent for a political party, candidate, or committee.
o A delivery agent must collect a signed form by the voter, stating they are being designated as a delivery agent. This form is included with the voting instructions received with the mailed absentee ballot. When delivering a ballot, the agent must provide the same identification as a voter at the polls and supply the signed designation form to the Auditor’s office.
o Someone returning an absentee ballot (including to a drop box) who is not allowed to, or someone who lies about it, commits a serious misdemeanor.
