With the primary election next week, there are still several ways that local voters can participate.

The Washington County Auditor’s Office will be open this Saturday for those wishing to register or vote by absentee ballot. The office located at the courthouse will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. where voters can drop off mailed absentee ballots or vote via absentee in person. The last day to vote via absentee at the auditor’s office is Monday, June 6th, and County Auditor Dan Widmer reminds the public that due to changes in Iowa’s voting laws, absentee ballots must be in hand at the auditor’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday in order to be counted. Mailed ballots that are received after that time cannot be counted.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, and some voters in the county should be aware that their precinct location may have changed due to this year’s redistricting. Widmer tells KCII news that voters who were impacted by that change should have received a postcard in the last month, and will receive another prior to the November general election. He encourages voters to register to vote in advance of election day and to be informed about where their polling place is located.

Contested Republican races on the ballot locally this year include County Recorder between Teresa Mangold and Dawn Fall-Hayes, County Board of Supervisors District 3 between Marcus Fedler and Bill Poch, State Representative District 92 between Jaron P. Rosien and Heather Hora, and at the state level, Auditor between Todd Halbur and Mary Ann Hanusa and US Senator between Chuck Grassley and Jim Carlin. Democrats have a pair of contested races at the state level between Joel Miller and Eric Van Lancker for Secretary of State and Abby Finkenauer, Michael Franken and Glenn Hurst for US Senate.

To find your polling location and more information about the primary election click here.