Auditor-Election Information

Election Calendar

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Registering to Vote

Registering: You must be registered to vote in any election in Iowa. You may register to vote if:

• You are a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Iowa
• You are at least 17 1/2 years of age or older

You must provide the following information:

• Iowa Driver's License # or last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
• Your full name
• Your residence address
• Your date of birth
• Your name and address as given on your last registration(if applicable)

You may decline to give the following information:

• Your political party preference
• Your telephone number
• Your social security number

WARNING: You can be convicted and fined up to $7,500.00 and/or jailed for up to five years for false information.

Deadlines:

• 10 Days before Primary and General Elections which will be a Saturday The Election Department will be open from 8am to 4pm on that Saturday
• 11 Days before all other Elections which will be a Friday

The Election Department will be open normal weekday hours from 8am to 4:30pm

Where to register: Mahaska County Auditors's Office, Courthouse, 106 S 1st Street, Oskaloosa IA 52577

Eligible citizens may also register at the Iowa Department of Transportation offices or use the Voter Registration forms found in the Government Section of both the U.S. West and the McLeod telephone directories.

Questions: Direct questions to the Election Department at (641)673-7148.

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Absentee Voting

Persons wishing to vote by absentee ballot have two options:

• They may vote in person at the Auditors Office
• They may complete an official Absentee Ballot Request form & return it to the Auditor's Office to have a ballot mailed to them

Requests for an absentee ballot should be made no earlier than 70 days prior to an election. Routinely the Auditors Office issues a press release to announce when absentee ballots are available and ready for voting.

Persons requiring their ballot be mailed to an address other than their registered address may include college students, snow birds, and persons residing overseas.

It is possible to fax your official Absentee Ballot Request form for an absentee ballot.

However, the voter must separately mail the ORIGINAL REQUEST document to the Auditors Office which must be received before election day in order for the issued ballot to be counted. Voted ballots will not be opened unless the original request has been received.

The Code Of Iowa provides for persons who have become hospitalized within 3 days of an election; Saturday, Sunday or Monday (or election day). To make a request call the Auditors Office no later than 4 hours before the polls close. The issued ballot will be personally delivered to that voter at the hospital by 2 election officials who will assist the voter in voting (if requested) and return the sealed, voted ballot to the Auditors Office to be counted on election day.

The last day to vote by absentee ballot is always the day before the election during regular Election Office hours which are 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day before the election and received before the canvass. Voters may return absentee ballots personally to the Auditors Office on election day prior to the closing of the polls.

Polls close at 9 pm for Primary and General elections, and 8 pm for Municipal and School elections. Absentee ballots may not be turned in at a polling place except to be surrendered and voided, in which case the voter will be allowed to vote on the machine. Questions may be directed to the Auditors Office.

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