The Des Moines County Auditor's Office has issued important information about absentee voting for the 2022 Primary Election.
Absentee voting is set to begin Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
To absentee vote by mail, the last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Monday, May 23 at 5 p.m. A completed and signed absentee ballot request (ABR) form is required before a ballot can be mailed. More information, including access to a printable ABR form, can be found at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html. Return the completed ABR form to Des Moines County Auditor, P.O. Box 784, Burlington IA 52601. The ABR form can be submitted now; there is no need to wait until May 18.
Ballots will begin to be mailed on May 18 and for the following five days; during that time, ballots will be mailed within 24 hours of receiving a request. Any requests received after the May 23 deadline cannot be processed. After returning your request form, you may check the status by visiting https://sos.iowa.gov/ (click on the Elections tab, Voters, then Track Your Absentee Ballot).
In-person absentee voting at the courthouse will begin May 18 and end June 6 at 5 p.m. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Auditor's Office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo identification is required to vote. In addition, party affiliation is required. On the absentee ballot request form the voter must mark which party ballot they would like to receive. If they do not, the voter will be sent the ballot for the party with which they are currently registered (if listed). If no party is chosen and they are registered as “No Party”, they will receive a phone call from the Auditor’s Office. At the polls, the voter will be asked which party ballot they choose to vote. Independent ballots are not an option - only Democrat or Republican ballots will be available.
For any questions, call the Des Moines County Auditor's Office at 319-753-8232 (press 5).