Iowans are being urged to use mail-in absentee ballots to vote from home for the June 2 primary election due to the threat of spreading COVID-19 through personal contact..
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the state will send absentee ballot request forms to every registered voter in the state. These forms include a postage paid envelope to return the request to the county auditor.
The county will then mail an absentee ballot to the voter, which can be returned by mail with the included postage-paid envelope or dropped off at the courthouse.
Union County Auditor and Election Commissioner Sandy Hysell said she is hoping that most Union County residents will take advantage of absentee voting but said that the county is taking steps to make in-person voting as safe as possible.
Voting at the courthouse begins May 4. Voters should enter the building through the front doors and follow the signs pointing downstairs to the voting area.
Hysell said, if the offices are open by this point, directing voters downstairs will help keep the traffic flowing in one direction and limit the number of people congregating in one area.
Social distancing guidelines will be in place to help voters stay 6 feet apart if it is necessary to wait. Plexiglass barriers will shield the voter and election workers from each other.
“We decided to put ours (voting areas) downstairs so we’re not bottle-necked with the treasurer,” Hysell said. “We’ve got it set up. We’ve got cones ... We’ve got lines that will keep them 6 feet apart.”
Curbside voting is also available by appointment. Those who do not wish to leave their vehicles and enter the courthouse may call 641-782-1701 to set up a time for an election official to bring the request form to their car outside the courthouse. Once the form is filled out, the official will take it inside and bring back the ballot. The voter can mark the ballot and then return it to the official who will take it back inside.
Hysell said on primary day, Union County will have three voting locations open: two in Creston and one in Afton.
The Supertel Inn, 800 Laurel St., will be open for those who regularly vote there, at Crest Baptist Church or Salem Lutheran Church. The Southwestern Community College multipurpose room at the YMCA, 1501 W. Townline St., will be open for those who normally vote at SWCC or Trinity Lutheran Church. Afton Methodist church will be the polling place for those who vote in Afton, Arispe and Lorimor.
Each location will have signs indicating who should vote there. The regular polling places that are not open will also feature signs directing voters to the correct location.
“We’re trying to make it as convenient as possible for the voters and still remain the social distancing, the protection for our voters,” Hysell said. “We’re ready.”