Over 3k HC residents to vote early, absentee, county auditor says

Henry County Auditor Shelly Barber expects well over 3,000 early and absentee voters in Henry County by Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Barber received just shy of 3,000 ballots since early and absentee voting began on Oct. 9, which she said could slow things down at the polls on Tuesday.

'But it may not. It's something that's very hard to determine,” Barber said. 'I know there's a lot of people in (the Court House) voting, and a lot of them I've never seen them vote absentee before. I'm not sure if they voted in the polls and are voting absentee now or if they've never voted before.”

Barber said she has yet to receive back all absentee ballots mailed out but hopes to get them back by Election Day. Ballots sent back that are postmarked by Election Day are counted in the voting totals.

Satellite polling was held at Iowa Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Oct. 24. A total of six people voted including one poll worker and two Iowa Wesleyan students. The satellite polling cost the county $350, election coordinator Robin Detrick said in an email.

'You're looking at $59 bucks a ballot,” Barber said, adding that they opened the satellite polling location because they were petitioned by the Henry County Democratic Party to do so. 'It never turns out a lot of people, but this year it really did not turn out.”

Barber said she spoke with someone from the State Democratic Party, who said he did not see the need for a satellite polling place when the courthouse is open for early voting just a few blocks away.

The Auditor's Office tested the voting machines Thursday morning, Nov. 1. Detrick marked ballots, ran them through each machine, checked the toe tallies to make sure the outcome are right and then reset the machines back to zero. On the morning of the election, election workers also will check to make sure the machines are set to zero and ready to go.

For people voting on Election Day, Barber reminds residents in Henry County to show up to the polls with their driver's license or non-operator ID. If their ID does not have their Henry County address on it, they can bring in another piece of mail like an electric bill, rent lease, bank statement or paycheck that has their current residence, Barber said.

'I hope people get out and vote and take advantage of the rights they've been given,” Barber said.

Henry County residents can still vote early at the courthouse Friday, Saturday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Election Day voting is Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Polling locations are as follows:

Residents in the Mt. Pleasant precinct wards I, II, III and IV can vote at the Veterans Hall at 300 W. Monroe Street in Mt. Pleasant.

Residents in the southeast precinct of New London, New London Township and Baltimore Township can vote at the New London Community Center at 103 W. Washington Street.

Residents in the southwest precinct of Salem, Hillsboro, Salem Township and Jackson Township can vote at Salem City Hall.

Residents in the northwest precinct of Wayland, Coppock, Olds, Jefferson Township and Wayne Township residents living west of James Avenue can vote at Wayland City Hall.

Residents in the northeast precinct of Winfield, Mt. Union, Scott Township, Canaan Township and Wayne Township residents living east of James Avenue can vote at Winfield City Hall.

Residents in the central precinct of Rome, Westwood, Trenton Township, Tippecanoe Township, Marion Township and Center Township can vote at Emergency Management at 900 W. Washington Street in Mt. Pleasant.