Pay close attention to registration, mail-in ballot deadlines this election season

In odd-numbered years such as 2025, the November election is specifically for cities and schools. This election is less publicized than a general election, and therefore, the turnout is much lower than an even-numbered year general election.

Part of the reason for the lower turnout is most likely due to local races not having large campaign budgets to advertise on television and social media platforms. There is usually less campaign signage as well.

One common misconception about this type of election is that only city residents get to vote. This is incorrect. All eligible voters in the county, regardless of living inside or outside of corporate limits, reside within a school district and, therefore, have a ballot to vote. Those living within corporate limits will have both city races and school board races on their ballots. Those who live outside of corporate limits will only have school board races on their ballot. To find out who is running for the city and/or school board races, you can visit the Jones County elections website. You will find a candidate listing report near top of the website home page. 

To be prepared for voting in the Nov. 4th election, there are a couple of things to think about. Are you registered to vote and are you going to vote on election day or by absentee ballot prior to election day?

The first step is to know your voter registration status. Are you currently registered to vote, have you moved since you last updated your voter registration, or are you a first-time voter and need to register? The pre-registration deadline for the Nov. 4th election is Oct. 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. There are options for updating your voter registration or registering to vote for the first on election day. This does require proof of identification and proof of residency. For a better election day experience, it is helpful to have your voter registration up to date prior to the Oct. 20th deadline. There are various methods to update your voter registration or register to vote for the first time. You may register to vote online via the Iowa Department of Transportation system, or you can register by filling out a paper form in the auditor’s office. The auditor’s office can mail you a voter registration form upon request. The original paper form must be returned to the auditor’s office. Electronic copies of voter registration forms are not accepted. 

The second step is to decide by what method you want to vote. There are three options for voting. You can vote an absentee ballot by mail, vote an absentee ballot in person at the auditor’s office or vote at the polls on Election Day. The absentee ballot-by-mail voting period starts Oct. 15th, and ballots must be in possession of the auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. By law, the auditor’s office cannot accept new requests for absentees by mail after Oct. 20th. If this is the method that you are choosing, don’t wait to turn in your written request form. Absentee request forms can be turned in anytime between now and Oct. 20th. The auditor’s office must receive the original form back.

There are electronic submission options for voters in the military and/or those living abroad. If you like to vote in person but do not want to go to your polling location, you can vote at the Jones County Courthouse -- 500 W. Main St. in Anamosa -- in the auditor’s office starting on Oct. 15th through Nov. 3rd during normal business hours of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. On election day, the only method of voting is at your polling location. You cannot vote at the courthouse on election day. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Polling places are precinct specific, so you must go to the polling location for the precinct in which you reside. 

 The Jones County Elections website 
(www.jonescountyiowaelections.gov) is a good source of information for all elections. You can find candidate listings, precinct maps, online voter registration link, absentee request forms and election results on the website. Not sure how to navigate the website or are not able to find what you are looking for? Please call the auditor’s office at (319) 462-2282. We are always happy to help.