Both of the candidates running to be Iowa’s top election official for the next four years favor extending the period for early voting in Iowa. Iowa used to have a 40-day period for casting ballots before Election Day. Democrat Ryan Peterman says the current 20 day period isn’t long enough.
Republican Paul Pate, Iowa’s current secretary of state, says he and local election officials are following current law, but they have suggested the current 20-day period for mailing absentee ballots is too short.
Pate says if you plan to mail an absentee ballot this week, make sure it has enough time to meet the deadline. Iowa law requires absentee ballots submitted through the mail to be delivered to county auditors by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Go to www.radioiowa.com to find the link on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website to track your absentee ballot. Pate and Peterman made their comments during a recent appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.
