Early voting is officially underway in Iowa. Washington County has had over 3,000 people request absentee ballots. Those absentee ballots that were requested will now be sent to voters in the mail. Upon receiving them, people can fill out the ballots completely at home, sign them, and put them back in the mail. If you are a resident of Washington County, you can also place the ballot in the secure drop box on the west side of the courthouse.

Washington County Auditor Dan Widmer shares how people can register to vote if they haven’t yet, “The best thing to do is to come into the auditor’s office and take care of that. There’s a simple form that needs to be completed in order to be registered to vote. We have those forms available here in our office, they’re also available on the Secretary of State’s website. If someone was to just print one out, and complete it and return it to us. We do need the original, email will not work. It is very, very simple and easy to do.”

Another option to vote early is to do it in person at the auditor’s office. Take a valid form of identification and go to the auditor’s office during business hours to fill out your ballot and turn it in at the courthouse. The auditor’s office will also be open the two Saturdays leading up to the election from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to provide another option for people to vote early in person.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 3rd for election day. For a list of Federal candidates click here.

Local candidates are listed below an * indicates an incumbent.
STATE OFFICES
State Senate District 42
– Jeff Reichman (Republican)
– Rich Taylor* (Democrat)

State Representative District 78
– Jarad Klein* (Republican)
– Kimberly K. Davis (Democrat)

State Representative District 84
– Joe Mitchell* (Republican)
– Jeff Fager (Democrat)

WASHINGTON COUNTY OFFICES
Board of Supervisors District 1
– Jack Seward* (Republican)

Board of Supervisors District 2
– Bob Yoder* (Republican)

Board of Supervisors District 4
– Stan Stoops* (Republican)
– Lorraine Williams (Democrat)

Auditor
– Dan Widmer* (Republican)

Sheriff
– Jared Schneider* (Republican)

NON-PARTISAN OFFICES LOCAL
Brighton Township Trustee (Vote for no more than 2)
– Douglas G. Moothart
– Dennis Pacha

Clay Township Trustee (Vote for no more than 2)
– Dale Morgan
– Chuck Meacham

County Hospital Trustee (Vote for no more than 3)
– Mike Van Osdol
– Mike Driscoll
– David C. Bruns

Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner (Vote for no more than 3)
– Thomas E. Vittetoe
– Kate Giannini
– Corey Malichky

County Agricultural Extension Council (Vote for no more than 4)
– Sue Janecek
– David Erwin
– Kathy Ebert
– Duane Hammen