(Atlantic) – With social distancing recommended and with full trust in the United States Postal System, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman is encouraging all Cass County voters to take advantage of the right to vote early by mail for the 2020 General Election on November 3, 2020.

Several organizations have mailed official applications for an absentee ballot to Iowa voters and nearly 2,000 Cass County voters have already filed an application. Only one of those application forms needs to be sent to the County Auditor; all additional forms may be discarded or recycled. The first day the County Auditor may mail the actual ballot to the voter is October 5th. Last day to file an absentee ballot request form with the County Auditor and for him to mail you the ballot is October 24th.

The Auditor recommends requests be filed as soon as possible. If a voter still needs a request form, absentee ballot request forms are available on the website of the Iowa Secretary of State (https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html); or you may contact the Cass County Auditor and have a form mailed or emailed to you. Phone: 712-243-4570 or Email: auditor@casscoia.us.

IN PERSON EARLY VOTING: Monday, October 5 is the first day absentee ballots may be voted at the county auditor’s office. The Cass County Auditor’s office has regular office hours of 8:00 A.M. thru 4:30 P.M., Monday thru Friday. The office will also be open for voting on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31. Last day to vote early in the auditor’s office is November 2.

VOTING IN VOTER’S VEHICLE: In accordance with Chapter 49.53 of the Iowa Code, any voter who is physically unable to enter the polling place, including the Cass County Auditor’s office, has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle.

REGISTRATION / IDENTIFICATION: All voters are required to be registered in Cass County in order to vote in Cass County. All voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a ballot. Voters may register and vote on the same day. Persons registering and voting on the same day after October 24 will also be required to provide proof of residence.

The CDC also believes that people aged 65 years and older are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID- 19 and should stay home and avoid close contact. A majority of Iowa’s Precinct Election Officials (PEOs) are older than 65, and several PEOs, statewide, are declining to serve as PEOs for this General election. For this and other reasons, the majority of County Auditors in Iowa are combining precincts for the 2020 General Election.

The Cass County Auditor (Local Commissioner of Elections) has chosen to combine the regular 13 Cass County voting precincts into 9 combined precincts and has chosen voting locations which he believes will best serve the voters of Cass County.

Those combined precincts and voting locations are:

• COMBINED PRECINCT 1 (AT1 / MR) Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th) 1 Atlantic 1st Ward & 8 Brighton Township, Grove Township, Pymosa Township, Washington Township / City of Marne
• COMBINED PRECINCT 2 (AT2- 3) Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th) 2 Atlantic 2nd Ward & 3 Atlantic 3rd Ward;
• COMBINED PRECINCT 3 (AT4- 5) Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th – South Entrance) 4 Atlantic 4th Ward & 5 Atlantic 5th Ward
• COMBINED PRECINCT 4 (LW) Lewis Public Library (412 W Main St, Lewis) 6 Bear Grove Township, Cass Township / City of Lewis;
• COMBINED PRECINCT 5 (GS) Griswold Community Building (601 2nd St) 11 Noble Township, Pleasant Township / City of Griswold
• COMBINED PRECINCT 6 (ED / VI) Cumberland Community Building (200 W 2nd) 9 Edna Township, Victoria Township
• COMBINED PRECINCT 7 (AN / WI) Anita Community Center (805 Main St) 7 Benton Township, Franklin Township / City of Wiota; & 10 Grant Township, Lincoln Township / City of Anita
• COMBINED PRECINCT 8 (MS) Massena Public Library (122 Main St, Massena) 12 Massena Township / City of Massena
• COMBINED PRECINCT 9 (CU / UN) Cumberland Community Building (200 W 2nd) 13 Union Township / City of Cumberland.