Voters in Buena Vista County can beat the Election Day rush starting this week, with early voting options opening Wednesday ahead of Iowa’s Nov. 3 general election.
The Buena Vista County Auditor’s Office in Storm Lake will begin in-person absentee voting Wednesday and continue through Monday, Nov. 2. Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 5 p.m. Oct. 19 and Oct. 30. The office will also be open Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
County Auditor Sue Lloyd says her office has already received a number of requests from voters who want to cast their ballots by mail.
The first day for county auditors to mail absentee ballots is also Wednesday. Voters who want a ballot mailed to them must submit a written absentee ballot request that reaches the auditor’s office by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. That same day is the deadline for pre-registering to vote. Eligible voters who miss the deadline can still register or update their registration when voting in person, including on Election Day, provided they meet Iowa’s registration requirements.
For voters who choose to vote by mail, timing is especially important, says Lloyd. Completed ballots must reach the county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, to be counted, with limited exceptions under state law. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing ballots at least one week before Election Day.
Lloyd says she’s concerned about whether mail will move quickly enough during the relatively short window between when ballots are sent out and when they must be returned.
There’s also an opportunity to vote early outside the courthouse. Buena Vista University will host a satellite absentee voting station from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Ballou Library Building at 425 College Ave. in Storm Lake.
Ballots will be available for all precincts in Buena Vista County. Voter registration forms will also be available for people registering for the first time or updating their registration in the county.
Voters casting ballots in person should bring an acceptable photo ID. If their ID does not list their current residence, Lloyd says they will need to display additional documentation — such as a piece of mail or a bill — to verify their address.
Lloyd also wants voters to know that voting absentee does not mean giving up the privacy of their ballot. She says election workers handle absentee ballot envelopes through a process designed to keep voters’ selections confidential.
Iowa’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can find additional information about absentee voting, registration requirements and polling locations through the Buena Vista County Elections website at bvcountyelections.iowa.gov or the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov.
