ABSENTEE VOTING (VOTE BY MAIL)

Requests for an Absentee Ballot had to be received by Oct 21. If you did not request a mailed ballot, you must use Early Voting, Satellite Voting or Election Day Voting to vote in the November 5th Election.

Ballots began mailing to those who requested them on Oct 16th.

You MUST make sure your absentEe ballot is received by the auditor by Election Day.

Mail it back by Oct 25.

If you think mailing it will not get it there in time, either deliver it in person to the Auditor during business hours or surrender it and vote a regular ballot at Satellite location or your polling place on Election Day.

Requestig an absentee ballot: Sorry you can't do it online. For any election, the first day the County Auditor can accept absentee ballot requests is 70 days prior to the election. You’ll need to print an absentee ballot request form. Our Story County Auditor has designed a form that is pre-addressed and  folds so you don't need an envelope and it's postage paid! Your form needs to be AT your county auditor’s office – not still in the mail –15 days before the Election. Here's the link: https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/265/Absentee-Ballot-Request-Form?bidId=

If you don’t have a printer at home, email your name and address to at least 30 days before an election to storycountydemocrats@gmail.com and we will mail one to Story County registered voters. Fill out the request form correctly! Make sure you’ve filled out all of the appropriate boxes including any apartment or dorm room number. Your phone number and email might take an extra minute but it means that your county election officials can reach out if there are any issues with your request or ballot. Wait for your ballot to be mailed to you. The first day absentee ballots are mailed out is 20 days before an Election. Fill out your ballot and return it! Mail it ASAP or return it directly to the Auditor’s Office during business hours. The outside 24 hour dropbox is no longer available due to changes in the law.

Absentee Voting is safe and convenient but you MUST return your ballot on time! Allow ample time if mailing it or return it directly to the County Auditor. Every Absentee Ballot that is returned on time is counted. It is not true that they are only counted in close races.

Your ballot needs to be AT your county auditor’s office – not still in the mail – by 8 PM on Election Day. If you cannot return your ballot in time, take it to your polling place on Election Day and vote a regular ballot. If your ballot is lost or still in the mail, ask to vote a provisional ballot at your polling place on Election Day.

Ballots received late will not be counted.

Republicans have passed restrictions about when,and how absentee ballots may be returned and who may return them. only an immediate family member or member of a disabled voter’s household may return a ballot. see your ballot for complete instructions and follow them carefully.

More information is available from the Story County Auditor-https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/FAQ.aspx?TID=42

and the Iowa Secretary of State-https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html

A summary of Absentee Voting law changes can be found at:

https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12687/2021-Election-Law-Changes-for-Iowa-Voters