Early voting begins in Jasper County

One election is over. Another begins.

Early voting has begun for the upcoming city and school board elections throughout Jasper County as of Oct .13, exactly one day after the auditor’s office managed a special election for the Iowa House District 29 race.

Registered and un-registered voters may now visit the Jasper County Auditor’s Office — Rooms 201 and 202 at the Jasper County Courthouse, 101 First St. N. — to submit their absentee ballots. Tina Mulgrew, deputy auditor, said the final day to vote absentee is Nov. 1.

Likewise, the last day the auditor’s office can mail out absentee ballots is Oct. 18, which is 15 days prior to Election Day on Nov. 2. However, in order to vote absentee by mail, voters must complete a request form obtained from the auditor’s office. Contact the auditor’s office at 641-792-7016 for more info.

“So if someone wants one mailed to them we gotta get that request form back by the end of business on the 18th,” Mulgrew said. “I’ve had people calling me, ‘Can you mail me a request form?’ and I’m looking at my calendar going I’d be more than happy to mail but I can’t guarantee that we’ll get it back by Monday.”

Jasper County Auditor’s Office is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for early voting.

The voter pre-registration deadlines is also Oct. 18. Mulgrew said as long as voters have a valid Iowa driver’s license or Iowa non-operator ID they may register to vote online at www.voterready.iowa.gov/resource/register. If voters are unsure if they’re registered they can check the secretary of state’s website.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com