Absentee, early voting is brisk across region

With less than two weeks to go before the Nov. 3 general election, early and absentee voting has been brisk.

County auditors in Iowa began mailing out absentee ballots on Oct. 5, and they will continue to accept requests for absentee ballots through the end of business on Oct. 24.

As of Tuesday morning, the Washington County Auditor's Office reported 5,517 absentee ballots have been mailed out to voters, with 4,069 returned.

Jefferson County reported 3,508 ballots mailed, with 2,439 of them returned, while Henry County has mailed out 3,490 ballots and received 2,518.

Voters who have requested absentee ballots have options for how to return their completed ballots.

All absentee ballots come with a postage-paid return envelope so voters can send them back via U.S. mail.

Voters also have the option of bringing their ballots directly to their respective county auditor's office during regular business hours.

Washington and Henry counties each have secure drop boxes where voters can submit their ballots. Jefferson County, however, does not have a drop box.

The Washington County drop box is outside the west entrance of the Washington County Courthouse in Washington.

The Henry County drop box is located outside the back door of the Henry County Courthouse in Mt. Pleasant.

The drop boxes are checked several times a day by auditor office staff.

In-person early voting in Iowa also began Oct. 5.

As of Tuesday morning, Henry County reported that 993 people have voted in person.

In Jefferson County, 1,158 in-person votes had been cast, while in Washington County, 778 people voted in person.

Early voting runs through Nov. 2, the day before Election Day, and counties have added Saturday voting hours to accommodate early voters.

In Jefferson County, voting is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

In Washington County, early voting hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

In Henry County, early voting hours are Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.