News : October 16 (first day for absentee voting) General Election Notice

Editor's Note: to view sample ballots click here.

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to the qualified electors of the County of Benton, State of Iowa, that the General Election will be held on Tuesday, the 5th day of November 2024. The polls for said election shall be open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M.

For said election Benton County will be divided into nineteen precincts. The precincts and polling places are as follows:

Precinct Name/Voting Location

Belle Plaine I - Belle Plaine Community Center, RSVP Room

Belle Plaine II - Belle Plaine Community Center, Dining Room

Belle Plaine III - Belle Plaine Fire Station

Benton-Canton-Shellsburg -Shellsburg Legion Hall

Big Grove-Union-Van Horne - Van Horne Community Center

*Bruce-Cedar-Monroe-Mt. Auburn - *Cedar Hall

*denotes change in polling place

Eden-Harrison-Taylor-Jackson-Garrison --- Benton County Courthouse, Center Hall

Eden-Harrison-Taylor-Jackson-Garrison - Benton County Courthouse, Center Hall

Eldorado-Newhall - Newhall City Hall

Florence-St. Clair-Norway - St. Michael's Parish Center

Fremont-Atkins - Atkins City Hall/Library

Homer-Kane-Keystone - Keystone City Hall

Iowa-Leroy-Luzerne-Blairstown --- Blairstown City Hall/Community Center

Polk-Urbana - Urbana City Hall/Community Center

Vinton I, II, III, IV - Vinton Skate & Activity Center

Walford - Walford City Hall/Community Center

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot.

Voters who are not pre-registered - such as voters registering to vote on Election Day - and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required):

1) may have the voter's identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct

2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents

3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the county auditor's office by November 12, 2024 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone 319-472-2365.

2021 ELECTION LAW CHANGES:

Voter Registration: Voter must register to vote 15 days (October 21, 2024) or more before the election to appear on the voter register on Election Day.

Absentee Voting:

1. The first day to submit an absentee ballot request form to the Auditors office is 70 days before Election Day.

2. The first day the Auditors office may mail absentee ballots to voters is 20 days (October 16, 2024) before an election.

3. The first day to vote absentee in person at the Auditor's Office is 20 days (October 16, 2024) before an election.

4. Absentee ballot requests for voting by mail must be received by 15 days (October 21, 2024) before an election.

5. Absentee ballots must be received by the county auditor by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Returning Absentee Ballots:

* The only people who may return a voted absentee ballot other than the voter are:

- Someone living in the voter's household

- An immediate family member

- The two special precinct election officials who deliver a ballot to the resident of a health care facility, dementia-specific assisted living program or hospital

- Voters unable to return a ballot due to blindness or other disability may use a "delivery agent" to deliver their ballots.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS CANNOT BE PLACED IN THE DROP BOX OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE!!!

Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter's vehicle. For further information, please contact the county auditor's office at the telephone or E-mail address listed below. Telephone: 319-472-2365

Email address: bcauditor@bentoncountyia.gov

For TTY access, dial 711+319-472-2365

THE FOLLOWING OFFICES APPEAR ON THEIR RESPECTIVE BALLOTS.

President/Vice President:

Donald J. Trump/JD Vance-REP

Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz-DEM

Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat-LIB

Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia-PSL

William P. Stodden/Stephanie H. Cholensky-SOC

Robert F. Kennedy Jr/Nicole Shanahan-WTP

Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis

US Representative District 2:

Ashley Hinson-REP

Sarah Corkery-DEM

Jody Madlom Puffett

State Senator District 38:

Dave Sires-REP

Eric Giddens-DEM

State Senator District 42:

Charlie McClintock-REP

State Representative District 76:

Derek Wulf-REP

Jarred Johnston-DEM

State Representative District 84:

Thomas Gerhold-REP

Ashley Meredith-LIB

County Board of Supervisor District 1:

Ronald J. Tippett-REP

County Board of Supervisor District 3:

Bruce E. Volz-REP

Nicholas Volk-DEM

County Auditor:

Hayley Rippel-REP

County Sheriff:

David Benjamin Upah-REP

Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner:

Mark Pingenot

County Agricultural Extension Council:

Duane Fisher

Marleen Patterson

Greg Svoboda

Clint Sandburg

Township and Office Candidate Name

Benton Township Trustee

Steve Cronk

Jerry Blank

Big Grove Township Trustee

John Ritscher

Matthew Gorkow

Bruce Township Trustee

Steve Vaughn

Kenneth Lassen

Canton Township Trustee

Jeffery Tumilty

Scott A. Deklotz

Eden Township Trustee

Ben Olson

Everett Heitshusen

Eldorado Township Trustee

Scott Thompson

Trevor Seeman

Florence Township Trustee

Roy L. Schulze

James Hemesath

Harrison Township Trustee

Walter Bauer

Bryon Geater

Harrison Township Clerk-to fill a vacancy

Kelly Geater

Iowa Township Trustee

Gene Upah

Dean Jensen

Jackson Township Trustee

James Fleming

John Buhr

Leroy Township Trustee

Helen Grunewald

Barry Werning

Polk Township Trustee

William Kester

Trent Kuhn

St. Clair Township Trustee

Edwin Wendel

Brian McNulty

Taylor Township Trustee

Kirk Appleby

John M. Berry

Supreme Court Justice:

David May

Court of Appeals Judge:

Mary Elizabeth Chicchelly

Samuel Langholz

Mary Ellen Tabor

Tyler J. Buller

District 6 Judge:

Andrew B. Chappell

David M. Cox

Elizabeth Dupuich

District 6 Associate Judge:

Joan M. Black

Brandon L. Schrock

PUBLIC MEASURES

THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEASURES APPEAR ON THEIR RESPECTIVE BALLOTS

1

Summary: Provides for only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older and meeting state and county residency requirements to vote in all elections. Further provides that 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the General Election are eligible to vote in the primary election, subject to the same citizenship and residency requirements.

Full Text: Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is proposed:

Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by the amendment of 1970, is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Section 1. Electors. Only a citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years, who shall have been a resident of this state for such period of time as shall be provided by law and of the county in which the citizen claims the citizen's vote for such period of time as shall be provided by law, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are authorized by law. However, for purposes of a primary election, a United States citizen must be at least eighteen years of age as of the next general election following the primary election. The required periods of residence shall not exceed six months in this state and sixty days in the county.

2

Provides that the lieutenant governor will act as the governor if there is a temporary disability of the governor. Further provides that the lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect will be the governor or governor-elect in the case of the resignation, death, or permanent disability of the governor or governor-elect thus creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect, as appropriate.

Full Text: Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is proposed:

Section 17 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Sec. 17. Lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect to become or act as governor or governor-elect. If there is a temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect.

BL

Shall the Board of Directors of the Union Community School District in the Counties of Black Hawk, Benton, Buchanan and Tama, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $20,500,000 to provide funds to improve the existing mechanical and fire alarm systems at the existing Elementary buildings; to remodel, repair, improve, furnish and equip portions of the existing High School and Middle School buildings; and to construct, furnish, and equip an addition to the High School building and improve the site?

NE

Shall the Board of Directors of the Center Point-Urbana Community School District in the Counties of Linn and Benton, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $20,615,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish, and equip additions to the High School, including an auditorium, lobby, multi-purpose practice space and weight room, and site improvements, including parking; to renovate, repair, equip, and improve athletic facilities, including baseball and softball fields and concession stand; and safety and security improvements at the Primary and Middle School buildings?

All voters are advised of the requirements of voter registration in order to be eligible to vote at said election. This notice is given pursuant to Section 49.53, Code of Iowa, 2023, as amended, and by order of Benton County Commissioner of Elections this 16th day of October 2024.

HAYLEY RIPPEL

Benton County Auditor/ Commissioner of Elections