September 11, 2024
Guest Column by Whitney Hein, Jones County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections
Last week’s column focused on the different methods by which a voter can cast a ballot in the upcoming November 5th General Election. This week, I want to focus specifically on Absentee Voting. Absentee voting is often highlighted negatively by television media, but in Iowa there is no reason to have concern about absentee voting.
Absentee voting by mail was a popular option in the year 2020 due to the global pandemic. In 2020, the Iowa Secretary of State sent an absentee ballot request form to every registered voter in the state making it simple for voters to request an absentee ballot. Since then, there has been a law change and now the only time an absentee ballot request form can be sent to you by a government official is if you specifically request one to be sent to you. Jones County voters can call the Auditor’s office and ask to be sent an absentee ballot request form. If you do receive an absentee ballot request form without specifically requesting one, it is most likely from a campaign or political organization. Voters can submit absentee ballot requests forms to the Auditor’s office anytime between now and October 21st at 5:00 p.m. You must submit the original form with an original signature. Request forms can be sent in the mail or dropped off at the office in person.
I do want to take a moment to clarify some common myths about Absentee Voting by mail. Only voters who submit an absentee ballot request form will receive an absentee ballot by mail. In Iowa, this has always been the procedure, and ballots have never been sent out without an Auditor first receiving that request form from the voter. Voters cannot submit blanket absentee ballot request forms to cover a period of time. A voter must fill out an absentee ballot request form for each election they wish to vote in. There are some exceptions to this for uniformed and overseas citizens as required by the federal government. If you have a friend or loved one that is a uniformed or overseas citizen, please have them reach out to the Auditor’s office for options on how to request a ballot.
Absentee voting in-person at the Auditor’s office is also another widely used option. The voter must fill out the absentee ballot request form in the Auditor’s office, then the correct ballot style and affidavit envelope is given to the voter and the voter must vote that ballot in the Auditor’s office. The voter cannot remove the ballot from the Courthouse and mail it back later.
When an absentee ballot is received by the Auditor’s office whether that ballot is received from a voter by mail or by a voter who voted in the Auditor’s office, it is checked to make sure the envelope is sealed, there is no evidence of tampering, and that the return affidavit envelope is signed. That envelope containing the ballot is then matched to the original absentee ballot request form and stored in a secure area until the bi-partisan Special Precinct Board convenes on Election Day to tally votes. If there is an issue with the affidavit envelope, the voter does get contacted by the Auditor’s office so that the non-compliance issue can be corrected. All eligible absentee ballots are opened on Election Day and run through the ballot tabulator by the bi-partisan Special Precinct Board. There are special provisions per Iowa Code Section 53.23(3)(c) for the bi-partisan Special Precinct Board to start this process the day before the election, but it is only to be used if absolutely necessary.
I want to assure you that every eligible ballot does count! Absentee ballots are tabulated the same way as ballots at the polling location on Election Day and all tallied votes from the Special Precinct Board and all polling locations go in to the final vote tally. Iowa has one of the most robust absentee voting systems in the nation and I am very confident in our election system and the processes used and prescribed by the Code of Iowa and Iowa Administrative Code to conduct the election.
April 12, 2024
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October 23, 2023
June 22, 2023
February 1, 2023
October 28, 2022
August 25, 2022
December 10, 2021
November 5, 2020
On Thursday, November 5, Jones County Public Health was notified by the Anamosa State Penitentiary that over 400 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.November 2, 2020
Beginning with cases reported on Friday, October 30, disease investigation and follow-up for COVID-19 cases in Jones County residents will be conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).October 30, 2020
The level of community spread of COVID-19 in Jones County has increased significantly this week, and has now reached a 14-day percent positivity of 15.1 percent.September 29, 2020
Today, Governor Reynolds announced a change in the definition the State of Iowa is using to define close contacts for the purposes of contact tracing of positive COVID19 cases.August 12, 2020
Many parts of Iowa were affected by a severe storm that swept through the state Monday, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of people.April 28, 2020
On Monday April 27, 2020 Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration until May 27, 2020.April 28, 2020
On Monday April 27, 2020 Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration until May 27, 2020.April 27, 2020
Iowa restaurants have a responsibility to take measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.April 16, 2020
On April 16, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds issued additional mitigation strategies related to COVID-19 for Northeast Iowa or Region 6, which includes Jones County.April 8, 2020
Businesses should implement measures to enable social distancing as much as possible.April 7, 2020
Jones County Public Health needs your help to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 within our communities.April 1, 2020
In accordance with temporary measures implemented on March 17, 2020 by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), restaurants and food operators must currently limit services to drive-through, carry-out and delivery only.April 1, 2020
On March 17, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; “It takes significant steps to require social distancing and limit community spread of the virus by implementing temporary measures including moving restaurants to drive-through, carry-out, and delivery only and closures of certain entities such as bars and recreational facilities.March 31, 2020
Two additional cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Jones County.March 30, 2020
A case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Jones County.March 27, 2020
The Jones County Auditor's Office is excited to share information about elections and to help make your voting experience easier. Like and follow our page to receive current information. Please share our page with your Jones County Facebook friends to help us to share information.March 25, 2020
Jones County Public Health urges local business and employers to follow social distancing guidelines in accordance with guidelines issued by local, state, and federal partners in order to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19.March 17, 2020
On March 15, Governor Reynolds announced her recommendation to close Iowa schools for four weeks to help limit the spread of COVID-19 now that there is evidence of substantial community spread in Iowa.