Preparation for the November 3, 2026 General Election

October 15, 2026

Preparation for the November 3, 2026, General Election

                The Auditor’s office has been diligently preparing for the upcoming election on November 3rd. Have you ever wondered what tasks must be completed by the Auditor’s office prior to the absentee voting period or election day? There are many steps in the process to ensure that ballots are printed correctly, all election marking devices and tabulators are tested for accuracy, all polling places will be adequately staffed with bi-partisan precinct election officials, double checking the back stock of office supplies, paper, envelopes, postage, and communicating with voters about absentee voting options and processing completed absentee ballot request forms.

                Last week, the Auditor’s office staff completed the public test of all polling place equipment. All machines went through logic and accuracy testing and passed all tests with 100% accuracy. These very specific tests to be performed are outlined in the Iowa Code.

                This week we have shifted our focus towards absentee voting, sometimes referred to as early voting. As of the time this article is being written, mid-morning on Friday, October 9th, the Auditor’s office has received 877 requests for absentee ballots by mail. The first day that these could be sent out is Wednesday, October 14th so the staff have spent the early part of the week packaging ballots in envelopes in preparation to deliver these to the post office on October 14th. The absentee ballot by mail ends on October 19th at 5:00 PM. Any completed absentee ballot request forms for mailed ballots received by the Auditor’s office after this day, cannot be sent under Iowa law. There are a few exceptions for military citizens, citizens living outside of the United States, and for citizens in health care facilities.

In-person absentee voting at the Courthouse also started on Wednesday, October 14th. Voters can vote in-person during normal business hours – 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM -starting October 14th and ending November 2nd. On October 19th and October 30th, the Auditor’s office will be open until 5:00PM. There is a Saturday option for in-person absentee voting. That date is Saturday, October 31st from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

While the Auditor’s office has been preparing for the election for several weeks, I encourage voters to prepare and plan for how and when they will vote. Do you want to vote absentee by mail? That deadline is approaching fast. Are you going to stop by the Courthouse over your lunch or after work to vote absentee in-person? Make sure you bring your driver’s license or other ID card with you! Do you prefer to vote on election day? If you usually vote first thing when the polls open at 7:00 AM, allow yourself extra time as the polls can be busy prior to voters going to work for the day. Does it work better for you to vote after work or between your kids or grandkids nightly activities? This will be the busiest time of day at the polls, and you may not be able to get in and out of the polls as quickly as you would like. I encourage all voters to plan for what method of voting they intend on using. Don’t forget to bring your driver’s license or ID with you for in-person voting! Attesters are no longer allowed for pre-registered voters so bringing your identification with you is essential.

Written by Whitney Hein, Jones County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections