SE Iowa News

Des Moines County Auditor Terri Johnson expressed frustration to the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors at the proposed changes to absentee voting despite the record voter turnout of the June 2 primary.

Earlier in the year, Iowa Secretary of State offices sent ballot request forms to every voter in Iowa. As a result, nearly half a million Iowans cast their vote. But some in the state legislature want to prevent the Secretary of State from sending request forms out again in the same manner, according to The Hawk Eye. 

Johnson said the process is a bit complicated as ballots are first requested then sent to the official address of the registered voter. The voter completes the ballot and endorses it via signature. It is sent back to the auditor's office and some ballots are counted by hand to ensure accuracy. 

There has not been much discussion about prohibiting county auditors from sending out ballot request forms in the same way for the general election, but Johnson said it is a costly endeavor. 

The majority of Des Moines County residents who voted in the primary did so by mail-in ballot. This helped minimize the number of voting precincts the county had to open.