Early voting began in Johnson and Washington counties on Monday, Oct. 5, including absentee voting. There are many ways to ensure your vote is counted in the 2020 general election, whether you vote early or on election day, or by mail or in person.

Voter registration

The voter registration deadline for the state of Iowa is Oct. 24. Voter registration may be completed online, via mail, or in person. Note that mailed-in registration forms must be received by Oct. 24 and the in-person registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

It is also possible to register to vote at your polling place on election day, but the procedures are different. First, you must go to your correct polling place. You can find your precinct and polling place on the Iowa Secretary of State website at sos.iowa.gov.

To register on election day, you will have to prove both who you are and where you live. The easiest way to do this is by presenting an Iowa driver’s license that includes your current address. However, another form of photo ID can be used (such an out-of-state driver’s license, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, etc.) but must be presented with proof of address, such as a residential lease, utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.

Requesting an absentee ballot

The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is Oct. 24.

Many organizations have mailed absentee ballot request forms over the past months. Any of these forms may be used, or you can print a form from the Johnson County or Washington County Auditor’s website. Requests must be received by your auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Absentee voting in person, Washington County

Voters who want to vote by absentee ballot may do so in person at the Washington County Auditor’s Office before Tuesday, Nov. 3. Only two people will be allowed in the Auditor’s Office for voting at one time and must check in with the door attendant at the west door of the courthouse as they come in.

Auditor’s Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.

Absentee voting in person, Johnson County

Voting will be at the parking ramp north of the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St. The entrance to drive up voting will be off Clinton Street. Voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Monday, Nov. 2.

Drive up voting will also be open the following weekend hours: Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Satellite voting sites throughout the county will also be open. For a full schedule, consult the Johnson County Auditor’s website at johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

Mail-in voting

Once you receive your absentee ballot in the mail, you can complete it and return it via mail at any time before election day.

Alternatively, ballots can be dropped off at your auditor’s office.

The envelope you use to mail your absentee ballot back includes an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB). This barcode is scanned by the post office, and the auditor’s office is able to pull a daily report from the post office letting them know which ballots were scanned into the system.