ELECTION FACT SHEET
Special Election
Election Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Poll Hours: 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Voter Eligibility To vote in this Special Election, one must be a U.S. Citizen, Requirements: 18 years of age and a registered voter residing in Mahaska County
Voter Registration Registration forms must be postmarked by Monday,
January 14th. Registration forms are available in the Auditor’s Office as well as on line at http://www.sos.state.ia.us. Registration in person must be completed on or before Friday, January 18th, in order for their name to appear on the correct listing for their voting precinct. Voters may change their address or name, or register for the first time at one of the vote centers on Election Day. Be sure to bring a photo id with an expiration date stating your current address. If the id is not current, please contact the Auditor’s Office at (641)673-7148 for additional requirements.
Where to Register: The Mahaska County Auditor’s office, 1st Floor of the Court House, 106 South First St., Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577, weekdays between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M.
Registration Name and address changes within Mahaska County may be made
Changes: any time up to the early registration deadline, Friday, January 18th. After the deadline, changes may be made at one of the vote centers. Please contact the Auditor’s Office at (641)673-7148 for additional information.
Voting Registration Final figures for the General Election will be available around
Statistics: February 5, 2013.
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Susan L. Brown, Mahaska County Auditor, announces that absentee ballots for the Special Election to be held January 29th will be available in the Auditor’s Office. Contact the Auditor’s Office (641-673-7148) for availability.
Any person unable to get to the polls on January 29th may send a written request to the Auditor’s Office, 106 South First Street, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. The request must contain the name, residential address, birth date, and address where the ballot is to be mailed. The request must indicate what election the absentee ballot is being requested and must be signed by each person requesting a ballot. The voter requesting the ballot can either use an Official Absentee Ballot Request Form or this information can be written on a piece of paper not smaller than a 3 x 5 postcard.
Absentee ballots may also be voted in the Auditor’s Office daily from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., Monday thru Friday. The last day to vote absentee in the office is Monday, January 28th. Voted absentee ballots mailed must be postmarked by Monday, January 28th at midnight. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Friday, January 25th, at 5:00 p.m.
Anyone having questions regarding absentee voting may contact the Auditor’s Office, 641-673-7148.
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MAHASKA COUNTY, IOWA
SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES
JANUARY 29, 2013
COUNTY OFFICE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
(Vote for no more than one)
Mark Doland - Republican
Tom Rielly - Democrat
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MAHASKA COUNTY
SPECIAL ELECTION
JANUARY 29, 2013
All eligible voters of Mahaska County can vote in the January 29, 2013 Special Election to fill the supervisor vacancy. Voters are NOT required to vote at their regular voting precinct, but may vote at any one of the vote centers listed below. Voters may vote at whichever location is most convenient. Polls will be open on election day from 7 AM to 9 PM. Voters may vote absentee through Monday, January 28. Contact the Auditor’s Office for availability of absentee ballots, or for any other questions. 641-673-7148
VOTE CENTERS
Union Mills Union Mills Christian Church Fellowship Hall 1405 Parkin Ave., Union Mills
Leighton Leighton Christian Reformed Church 415 Reid St., Leighton
Fremont Fremont Comm. Building 107 East Main St., Fremont
Truax Maintainer Shop-Truax 101 Lakonta Oak St., Eddyville
Oskaloosa-Ward 1 AEA/Ext. Office Building 212 N. I St., Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa-Ward 4 Old Grant School Building 715 B Ave. E., Oskaloosa
New Sharon New Sharon City Park Bldg 102 W. High St., New Sharon
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ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
Mahaska County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Susan L. Brown, is asking that eligible voters in Mahaska County who have not yet registered or changed their Mahaska County address with her office consider doing so before the early voter registration deadline of Friday, January 18, 2013 by 5 PM.
In January 2008, Iowa law was adopted to allow eligible persons the right to register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day if they are able to provide proof of both their identity and residency at the polls. The best form of ID is a valid Iowa Driver’s license with current address. If your license has an old address on it, you can use the license as proof of identity and use one of the following as proof of residence if it contains your name and current address: Current residential lease, Property tax statement, Utility bill, Bank Statement, Paycheck, Government check, or other government documents.
If you do not have an Iowa driver’s license, you can provide another ID as long as it contains your photo and is current, valid, and contains an expiration date.
If you do not have proof of residence and identity, a registered voter in your precinct may attest to the fact that you are who you say you are and that you live in the precinct you say you live in. You will both be required to sign an oath.
In the event that none of the above is possible, you will still be allowed to vote a provisional ballot at your polling site and provide the necessary documentation to the Auditor’s office in the days following the election.
The Auditor is requesting eligible voters still make every attempt to register by mail or in person at the Auditor’s office prior to the close of pre-registration at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2013. That will assure time for the Auditor’s office to complete the voter registration process and mail a Voter Registration Card to each registrant. That Voter Registration Card will indicate the location of the correct precinct. After January 18, 2013, new registrations in Mahaska County, will be required to follow the same process as those registering on election day. Any Mahaska County voter who has not changed their address with the Auditor’s Office prior to the January 18th deadline, will need to change their address at one of the vote centers for this election.
Persons that are already registered to vote at their current residence do not need to re-register to participate in this election.
Voter Registration forms can be obtained on line at www.sos.state.ia.us/elections, or at the Auditor’s office. Registrations should be mailed to Mahaska County Auditor, 106 South 1st Street, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. The Auditor’s office is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Any questions concerning this process or about the Special Election can be answered by calling 641-673-7148.
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LAST MINUTE CONCERNS FOR ABSENTEE VOTERS
My absentee ballot has finally arrived in the mail. But I’m afraid my ballot won’t be received in the election office in time to be counted!
You have several options:
• Mail your ballot. If postmarked no later than Monday, January 28th, and arrives in the election office by noon, Monday, February 4th, it will be counted or
• Personally deliver your absentee ballot to the county election office. You can take your ballot to the election office before 9:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 29th, or
• Vote at the polls. You can take your unvoted absentee ballot with you to the polls and surrender it to the election officials, allowing you to vote in the normal manner. If you forget your ballot or cannot find it, you will be asked to vote a “provisional” ballot, which means that your ballot will be put into an envelope. On Thursday, January 31st, the Special Precinct Board will consider provisional ballots.
I voted early by absentee ballot, but have changed my mind. Can I get my ballot back?
No.
I don’t want to vote for anyone on the ballot for a particular race. How do I cast a write-in vote?
Follow the instructions for write-in candidates provided with your absentee ballot. Call the Auditor’s office if you have any questions. If you are voting at the polls, instructions for write-in candidates are posted in each polling booth. If you have any questions, you can ask one of the workers at the voting precinct.
LAST MINUTE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY:
What if I go to the polls and they tell me I can’t vote because I requested an absentee ballot?
You will be asked to fill out a form saying that you did not receive an absentee ballot. You can then vote a provisional ballot, which will be put into an envelope. On Thursday, January 31st, the Special Precinct Board will consider provisional ballots.
What do I do if I have moved since the last time I voted?
If you still live in the county where you were last registered to vote, go to one of the vote centers for this election. Take a current picture identification with your current address with you. You will be asked to complete a voter registration form with your new address, and you can vote in the usual manner. If your ID is not current, call the Audtior’s office (641)673-7148 for additional instructions.
What if I don’t have my voter registration card any more?
If you are registered at the correct precinct, you do not need your voter registration card to vote. If you are asked for identification, show your current driver license or other picture identification.
What if I go to the polls and they tell me I am not registered to vote?
You can register to vote at the polls on Election Day. You will be required to show proof of residency and proof of identity. The best form of ID is a valid Iowa driver’s license with current address. If your Iowa driver’s license has an old address on it, please contact the Auditor’s office (641) 673-7148 for additional requirements.
Can another voter attest for me if I do not have proof of residence or identity?
• If you do not have proof of residence and identity, a registered voter in the precinct where you reside may attest to the fact that you are who you say you are and that you live in the precinct you say you live in.
If you have a registered voter in the precinct attest to your residence and identity, you will both be required to sign an oath. Falsely attesting or being attested for is a class “D” felony.
If you do not have proof of residence or identity and do not have anyone who can attest to your residence and identity, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. The special precinct board will meet Thursday, January 31st, to consider provisional ballots.