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Facts about voting in federal elections

Rhonda R. Deters, Grundy County Auditor, answers the following common questions about voting in Federal elections:

Am I eligible to vote? You are eligible to vote in Grundy County if (1) you are a U. S. citizen; (2) you are a resident of Grundy County; and (3) you are at least 18 years old. You cannot (1) be a convicted felon (unless your voting rights

How do I register to vote? You may apply for voter registration by mail by completing a Voter Registration Form which is available at the Grundy County Auditor’s Office or on the Grundy County website, www.grundycounty.org, or on the website for the Secretary of State,

When should I register to vote? The State of Iowa requires citizens to be registered in order to vote. If you are not registered to vote, you may pre-register for the General Election between now and October 29. By pre-registering, your name will appear on the election register at your polling site, and you will avoid the process required for Election Day Registration. However, Iowa law also allows you to register to vote on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct in which you currently live. This procedure may slow up the voting experience for voters choosing to wait until November 8 to register and vote at the polling site. In that event, the voter must prove both who he is and where he lives when he is using Election Day Registration. The best way to do this is with a valid Iowa driver’s license with your current address printed on it. If you do not have an Iowa driver’s license, you may use a photo ID that is current, valid, and contains an expiration date and proof of your residence address.

Are there special requirements the first time I vote? If you registered to vote on or before October 29, there are no special requirements the first time you vote. If you expect to vote in person on Election Day, you may use your driver’s license or non-operator identification card to check in to your polling place and confirm your residence address.

What is early voting or absentee voting? The State of Iowa allows you to cast a ballot before Election Day. Early voting and absentee voting refer to the same process in Iowa. If you want to cast a ballot before Election Day, you may do so by submitting an absentee ballot request form to the Grundy County Auditor’s Office. This form is available at the Grundy County Auditor’s Office or on the Grundy County website, www.grundycounty.org, or on the website for the Secretary of State,

Where do I vote on Election Day? You are assigned to a polling place based on the home address on your voter registration record. You may confirm your polling location on the website for the Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov, or by calling the Grundy County Auditor’s Office at 319-824-3122.

Is voting accessible if I have a disability? Polling places are designed to make the voting process accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities. If you have questions about the accessibility of your polling place or voting equipment, call the Grundy County Auditor’s Office at 319-824-3122.

May I request assistance to vote? You may bring an individual to assist you to vote. However, federal law prohibits you from receiving voting assistance from your employer or from an officer or agent of your union. A poll worker can also provide voting assistance. In addition, you may prefer to do curbside voting in which a poll worker will bring all voting materials to your car if you cannot leave your car easily.

How do I report a problem? If you experience a problem at a polling place or with voting procedures, you may contact the Grundy County Auditor’s Office at 319-824-3122 or you may contact the Iowa Secretary of State.

How can I become a poll worker? Poll workers are essential to ensuring smooth, fair, and accurate elections. Poll workers set up voting equipment, verify voter registrations, provide voters with appropriate ballots and instruct them on the use of voting equipment, close the polling place at the end of the day, prepare election materials for delivery to the Grundy County Auditor’s Office, and submit polling place results. To be a poll worker, you must be registered to vote in Grundy County. To find out more about how to become a poll worker, contact the Grundy County Auditor’s Office at 319-824-3122.

For more information or answers to other questions you may having concerning the General Election to be held on November 8, please call the Grundy County Auditor’s Office at 319-824-3122.