Are you ready to vote on Election Day?

To the Editor,

     Jones County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Janine Sulzner advises Jones County residents who plan to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6 to keep these six important things in mind:

     1. Go to the polling place for your address between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. If you show up at the wrong voting site, you will be directed to the correct polling place. If you insist on voting in a polling place that is incorrect based on your current address, you will be offered a provisional ballot and risk your ballot not being counted as it is Iowa law that voters vote in their precinct of residence.

     If you don’t know where your correct polling place is, contact the Auditor’s Office at 319 462-2282, by email at auditor@co.jones.ia.us, or go online to https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

     2. Be sure to bring your photo ID or Iowa voter PIN card with you. If you don’t have a valid ID, you may bring along another registered voter in the precinct to attest for you, or if you are already registered to vote you may simply sign an Oath of Identity in 2018 in lieu of an ID. The most common types of valid ID are an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID. Other valid forms of photo ID are: U.S. military or veteran’s ID, U.S. Passport, or Tribal ID document with photo. For pre-registered voters, the Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID can be up to 90 days expired; for persons not registered the ID cannot be expired.

     3. If you have moved or are not yet registered to vote in Jones County, make sure your ID has your new address, or bring along a document proving your new address with your name on it, or another registered voter in the precinct to attest to your address. Acceptable documents to prove a new address are: residential lease, utility bill, cell phone bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, other government document, or property tax statement. All documents must be current to within 45 days, and may be on paper or in electronic format, such as on your cell phone.

     4. Educate yourself about the candidates and measures on the ballot. Precinct officials cannot provide information about candidates or ballot measures. A sample ballot for Jones County voters was in the local newspapers last week. Samples may also be viewed online at http://www.jonescountyiowa.org/2018-general-election.

     If you know you can’t get to the polls on Nov. 6, you may still vote early by coming to the Auditor’s Office at the Courthouse in Anamosa no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5. The office will also be open on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist voters.

     5. Did you request and receive an absentee ballot by mail? If you haven’t already mailed your ballot back, do so right away! Your ballot envelope must be SIGNED, sealed, and postmarked no later than Monday, Nov. 5. If you’ve lost or spoiled your absentee ballot call the Auditor’s Office right away 319 462-2282.

Janine Sulzner

Jones County Auditor