September 7, 2004
Common Sense On: Voting
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires our active interest and participation. Not all of us have the time or inclination to run for office or to get involved in political campaigns. But we have a basic civic duty to register to vote – and to go to the polls on Election Day. The good news is that it’s not too late to register to vote on November 2.What is the deadline for registering to vote? Iowa law allows registration up to 10 days prior to a general election. This year, you can register up until 5:00 PM on Friday, October 21.
How do I register to vote? You may register in person at any driver’s license station or at your county auditor’s office. You can also mail in a registration form (available on the Web) to your county auditor’s office.
Where do I vote? First, determine your precinct. A list of polling places is usually printed in your local newspaper before Election Day. Or you may contact your county auditor directly (addresses and phone numbers are available at http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/auditors/AuditorsList.html). Your county or Iowa political party can also help.
In Iowa the polls close at 9:00 PM. If you are in line by this time, then you will receive a ballot.
What if I make a mistake or need help? As an Iowa voter, you have the right to request a new ballot if you make a mistake on your ballot before it has been cast. If you have any questions or need assistance while casting your ballot, ask a precinct election official for assistance. They are there to help you.
What if I have a handicap and have difficulty entering a polling place? Although the vast majority of polling places in Iowa are now handicapped accessible, you may find that you are unable to enter your polling place. Should this occur, a ballot will be brought to your vehicle and taken back by two local election officials of opposing political parties.
What if I am away from Iowa? If you live in Iowa but are temporarily away from the state, you may register in Iowa by mail by sending in a voter registration request. And you may request an absentee ballot at the same time from your county auditor with a form that your county auditor will send to you or that you can get from the web. But you must be registered for your absentee ballot to count. How do I vote absentee? In Iowa, every registered voter has the right to vote by absentee ballot for whatever reason. To vote absentee, you can get a ballot by requesting one from the country auditor with it arriving at the auditor by October 29. You can print out and mail in the online absentee ballot request form available at http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/AbsenteeBallotApp2002.pdf. The completed absentee ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before the election.
What if I’m not on the list of registered voters at my polling place? If you arrive at your polling site and find that you are not on the list of registered voters, first make sure you are at the correct voting place. If not, go there. If you are at the correct place, you have the right to vote on a provisional or “challenge” ballot. Your ballot will counted if it is determined that you were properly registered. But you must cast your ballot at the precinct where you are registered. If you moved from one precinct to another within a county, you can still vote after filling out a change-of-address form while you are at the poll.
The Secretary of State’s office has worked hard to make voting as easy and accessible as possible, whether by absentee ballot or in person. But actually getting to the polling place is up to you. We live busy lives, but I encourage you to do whatever it takes to vote this year.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Secretary of State by phone at 515-281-5781, on the Web at http://www.sos.state.ia.us or call your county auditor.