Voter registration

   Are you registered to vote? If you aren’t registered to vote, do you know how to register? Have you moved since the last time that you voted? Do you plan to vote in the upcoming Presidential General Election? These are all things to think about prior to the voter pre-registration deadline, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.

   One of the easiest steps to take is to check your voter registration status. You can contact your County Auditor and inquire about your voter registration status or check it online at www.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/search.aspx.

   After you check your voter registration status, you may learn that you aren’t registered to vote or that you are not registered to vote at your most current address. Completing or updating your voter registration is not a difficult task. There are two ways to complete or update your voter registration. You can fill out a paper voter registration form and turn the original form into your County Auditor’s Office or you can complete the online voter registration form. The online voter registration form does require an individual to have either an Iowa Driver’s License or Iowa Non-Operator ID. This is because the online voter registration system utilizes the Iowa DOT system. You can find both the paper registration form and the link to the Iowa DOT system on the www.jonescountyiowaelections.gov website and the www.sos.iowa.gov website. You can also stop by the County Auditor’s Office to pick up a paper voter registration form or call and request one to be mailed you.

   What happens if your voter registration is not up to date by Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. and you want to vote in the Nov. 5 Presidential General Election? You are still allowed to vote but you must follow the Election Day Registration procedures which requires you to prove your residency. This will take a few additional minutes at the polls so you will need to plan on allowing extra time when you go to vote. All voters must show their ID when voting such as an Iowa Voter Identification Card, Iowa Driver’s License, Iowa Non-Operator ID, U.S. Military ID, Veteran ID, U.S. Passport, or Tribal ID Card. Voters that need to register to vote on Election Day or update their residency address will need to also show a proof of residency. If your ID has your current address on it, you will not need any additional documentation. If your ID does not show your current address, then you will need an additional document such as a bank statement, utility bill, paycheck, residential lease, a government document, or property tax statement. Please keep in mind that if you use one of these additional documents it must be current within 45 days and have the voter’s name on the document.

   What happens if you forget to bring your ID or proof of residency when you go to vote? Electronic forms of identification are not acceptable for voting purposes. However, you are allowed to use a digital proof of residency so if you forget your utility bill at home, you are allowed to pull it up on your cell phone and show it to the election official. Voters are allowed to use an attester if they do not have their identification and/or proof of residency with them. An attester is a registered voter from the voter’s precinct that may attest for the voter. Both the voter and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true. Attesters must provide proper identification for themselves to attest to another voter’s identification. Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud. It is a class “D” felony and is punishable by a fine of up to $7,500 and up to five years in prison.

   Please reach out to my office at 319-462-2282 if you have any questions regarding your voter registration status.