Absentee voting starts Oct. 19

WASHINGTON — Absentee voting for the Nov. 8 Washington County general election begins Oct. 19.

Residents interested in voting by absentee ballot may do so in-person at the Washington County Auditor’s Office before Tuesday, Nov. 8. The office’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Nov. 4; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Alternatively, a ballot can be mailed to a voter starting Oct. 19 if they fill out and submit a request form, although County Auditor Dan Widmer said time was running out to make such a request.

“That window to request an absentee ballot by mail is quickly closing, it’s a very short window,” he said. “We need to have them no later than 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, on Election Day … if you need to request an absentee ballot by mail, you need to do it like, half an hour ago.”

Several organizations may be sending Absentee Ballot Request forms to registered voters, and any of those forms may be used, according to the auditor’s office. The ballot request form may also be obtained from the Washington County Auditor’s Office, the county website, or the secretary of state website.

Widmer said absentee ballots could be hand-delivered by those unable to mail them in time, but warned that the county did not have a drop box for the votes, meaning they must be brought directly to the auditor’s office inside the courthouse. The office also doesn’t check the postmark date of mailed-in ballots, only the date it was received by election administrators.

“If you have any doubt and it’s getting late, just drop it by our office,” he said. “We need it no later than 8 o’clock on election night … at 8:01, it’s too late. I know that sounds harsh, but we need to have a deadline.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com