The Linn County Auditor’s Office has received numerous telephone calls from voters confused after receiving multiple absentee ballot request forms in the mail. In some cases, voters have turned in an absentee ballot request form to the Linn County Auditor’s Office, but continue to receive additional forms from non-profit and political organizations.
Each voter needs to submit only one absentee ballot request form. These outside organizations may or may not have access to information about who has already submitted a request form, so voters may continue to receive additional request forms from multiple sources even after submitting their form to the Auditor’s Office. The Center for Voter Information and the Republican Party of Iowa have sent additional forms out and other organizations, political parties, and candidates may also send out request forms over the next two months. Absentee ballot request forms sent by the Iowa Secretary of State’s office will be arriving at the home of each registered voter in the state by the end of August.
In an effort to reduce confusion, the Linn County Auditor’s office started a new process of sending a bright green postcard to confirm each absentee ballot request form has been received and processed. Cards are mailed each Friday to the voters whose request forms were processed during the week. Due to the tremendous response to the Linn County mailer sent in July, over 35,000 Linn County voters have already submitted their requests for mail-in ballots. Elections staff are working diligently to get all those requests entered accurately and as soon as possible.
In accordance with state law, the Auditor’s Office will mail ballots starting Monday, October 5. Voters have until 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 to submit absentee request forms.
Early, in-person, absentee voting will be available from October 5 through November 2.
Questions regarding voter registration or absentee voting may be answered by visiting LinnCounty.org/Vote, emailing [email protected]. or calling 319-892-5300, option 1.