A reminder to voters from the Cass County Auditor’s Office: if you wish to vote by mail, the LAST DAY to request a ballot be mailed to you, is this Saturday, Oct. 27th. Requests must be received at the Auditor’s Office by 5-p.m., Saturday. Any eligible voter who so chooses may vote a ballot before November 6th. If you plan to vote AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE, you can do so any day the office is open up through November 5th. The Auditor’s office is open the two Saturdays preceding November 6th: this Saturday, October 27 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday, November 3 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

In order to vote in Iowa, a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, with the person’s current name, and at the person’s current address (on November 6). The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and who are planning to vote in the November GENERAL ELECTION, pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible. You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day. The last day to pre-register in the office of the County Auditor is Saturday, October 27, 2018 (office is open until 5 p.m.).

After Oct. 27th, an eligible elector may still register and also vote on the same day, regardless of whether they are voting early (absentee) or at a voting center on November 6th, General Election Day. However to register after Oct. 27th, the voter must provide proof of IDENTITY (photo ID)- such as Iowa driver’s license, Iowa non-operator’s ID, or out of State driver’s license; and must provide proof of residence- document with your current address in the precinct which includes your name such as the photo ID, utility bill, paycheck, or bank statement. (Note: Voters with no ID may establish identity and residence in the precinct by written oath of a person who is already registered to vote in the same precinct.)

In Cass County all voters will mark and cast a paper ballot. Straight-ticket voting has been eliminated.  Each position must be voted for individually. No ballots voted, whether voted early or voted on November 6th, are tallied until November 6th. ABSENTEE BALLOTS are filed when they arrive at the Auditor’s office and stored in a locked storage area (sealed in their individual affidavit envelopes) until November 6th. On November 6th, a group of Republican and Democratic absentee precinct election officials process and tally the ballots. On election day all ballots, whether absentee or cast at the polls, are counted by optical scanners. No count results are available until after the close of the polls on the day of the election. Polls close at 9-p.m.

If you have ANY questions about the ballot process, including where to vote, please call the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570, or, e-mail: auditor@casscoia.us