(Des Moines) — This week is National Voter Education Week.
That’s why Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is among those reminding Iowa residents of ways to register to vote, update their registration, and participate in the upcoming November 4th city-school elections. Pate tells KMA News that one of the several ways for voters to get involved in the process is already underway.
“Early voting has now begun–so if those who want to vote by mail early can request that absentee ballot from their county auditor right now and we have that part of the voting process engaged,” said Pate. “There’s some things to take care of to make sure you’re successful even on that front. Maybe you need to adjust your voter registration information or you might’ve moved or something along those lines. So those are the things that you want to update.”
Pate says residents can also begin voting absentee in person at their respective county auditor’s office next week. While city-school elections often don’t see as strong a turnout as other years, such as a presidential election, Pate says it is just as important for residents to get to the ballot box.
“People may not be tuning in like they would for a presidential year, so we have to work a little harder to remind people that this election is there,” said Pate. “Let’s face it, these folks have some serious decisions they’re making about your community or your kids and schools that you have a voice in by either voting for somebody as a vote of confidence, or perhaps you want to change and you’re voting somebody out of office.”
Pate reminds voters that Iowa is also a voter-ID state, requiring individuals to provide some form of identification at the polls.
“Driver’s license, over 90% of the folks have those, we issue voter ID cards to people as well, and you’re allowed to have someone else vouch for you who has an ID,” Pate explained. “They can say, ‘I’m Paul Pate’ and I’ll show you my ID to prove I’m not just some guy saying it. That helps in some respects. So, those are all options for those folks and we just wanna make sure that people are ready for that as well.”
Other valid forms of identification include U.S. Military or Veteran IDs, U.S. Passports, a “non-operator” ID, and a Tribal ID or document. Pate also encourages residents to visit voterready.iowa.gov–a “one stop shop” for voter registration information and other resources.
“It has everything from updating your voter registration or making sure that you’re registered to knowing where your polling site is so you don’t spin your wheels going to the wrong site by chance,” said Pate. ” Or you can make sure that if you want to go in and vote early, as I’ve said, at the courthouse, you know where the courthouse is or the auditor’s office is. All that information is there.”
You can also find out more information regarding your specific polling location and other local information by contacting your respective county auditor’s office.