Voting is a fundamental right and
responsibility of every American citizen. Listed below are some of the most
Frequently Asked Questions in regard to elections and voting in the State of
Iowa and Marion County.
WHEN ARE THE ELECTIONS HELD?
General Elections are held on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
of each even-numbered year.
Primary Elections are held on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in June of
each even-numbered year.
WHERE DO I GO TO VOTE?
If you
click on this link it will open a series of maps that may assist you in
locating your precinct and polling place. You need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to
access these maps. You can also contact the Marion County Auditor's office or
your respective political party for this information.
You may also go to the
Iowa Secretary of State web page "Find Your Precinct/Polling Place" to
locate your polling place for the different types of elections.
CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
Yes, BUT, there are specific legal requirements as to the
identification documents you need to bring with you to the polls. Additional
information may be found at the Iowa Secretary of State's website at
https://sos.iowa.gov/ or by viewing the
Election Day Registration page on the Iowa Secretary of State web site.
HOW CAN I VOTE IF I AM UNABLE TO GO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY?
You have the option of voting by Absentee Ballot. First you must complete an
Absentee Ballot Request Form and submit the form to the Marion County Auditor's
Office. One option is to go to the Auditor's office, complete and submit the
Absentee Ballot Request Form, and complete your ballot at that time. A second
option is to
click on this link that will open up an Absentee Ballot Request Form, complete online,
print, sign, and mail the completed form to the Auditor and your ballot will be
sent to you by mail. Your completed ballot can then be returned to the Auditor
by mail or hand delivered. You can also update your registration at the
same time you renew your driver's license.
Election Integrity: What has changed in the law in regard to Voter ID?
To learn more about the changes in the Voter ID laws, click on this link to the
Iowa Secretary of State web site.
I HAVE MOVED. HOW DO I UPDATE MY VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION?
You will need to complete a new Voter Registration Form and submit it to the
Marion County Auditor. You can do this person at the Auditor's office, or you
can
click on this link that will open up a Voter Registration
Form to be completed online, printed, signed, and submitted to the Auditor by
mail. You can also go to the
Iowa DOT web site to register or update your registration.
Or you can also update
your registration at the same time you renew your driver's license.
HOW DO I VOTE IF I AM OVERSEAS OR IN THE MILITARY AT THE TIME OF THE
ELECTION?
For U.S. citizens residing outside the United States, or members or family
members of the U.S. Armed Forces, you can get assistance from either of the two
resources of the
Iowa Secretary of State office, or the
Federal Voting Assistance Program.
I AM CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED?
Many questions for candidates for political office can be answered by
downloading a copy of the
Candidates Guide located on
the
Iowa Secretary of State's website, and the
Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board website. You may also want to contact your respective political
party for assistance in these matters.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENTIRE VOTING PROCESS, IS THERE SOME
PLACE I CAN GO FOR INFORMATION?
The Iowa State Association of County Auditors (ISACA), in cooperation with the
Iowa Secretary of State, has created a series of slideshow presentations
explaining different aspects of the election and voting processes.
Click here to visit the ISACA website to access these presentations.
|