Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that requests for ABSENTEE BALLOTS (ballots cast prior to ‘election day’ by mail or at Auditor’s office) may be sent or brought to the County Auditor’s office. First day to vote in the auditor’s office is Thursday, September 25, 2014 and the last day to vote in the auditor’s office is Monday, November 3, 2014.

VOTER REGISTRATION: In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s present name, and at the person’s current address. Registration forms are available at the county auditor’s office, many State of Iowa service offices and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov

The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and are planning to vote in the November GENERAL ELECTION pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible. You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day.

Reminder: You may also update your registration as you update your address for your driver’s license. Since your Iowa driver’s license is often used as official identification, it’s important that the data shown is accurate. In fact, Iowa law requires residents to notify the Department of Transportation within 30 days of an address change. You may be fined for having inaccurate information on your license if you are stopped by a police officer while driving. The easiest method of changing your address is to visit an Iowa driver’s license station – in Cass County that station is in the Cass County Treasurer’s office, Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa (there is a $1 fee for updating your driver’s license at the driver’s license station).

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, also notes that if a person chooses, he/she may request and vote a ballot before election day (called ABSENTEE BALLOT). You may request that the ballot be sent to you by mail (USPS) or you may vote at the office of the County Auditor.

IF YOU HAVE THE BALLOT MAILED TO YOU: A written request may be mailed or hand delivered to the County Auditor’s office. (Absentee request forms are available at the auditor’s office and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov). A ballot along with instructions on how to complete the ballot will be mailed to the requester. The package will include a RETURN ENVELOPE with POSTAGE AFFIXED and an AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE. For the ballot to be counted, the completed ballot, sealed in the AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE (the voter must sign the affidavit envelope) must be returned by mail postmarked no later than the day before the election. Alternatively the ballot may be returned by personal carrier to the office of County Auditor before the polls close on election day. All BALLOTS MUST BE RETURNED, whether they were voted or not voted.

IF VOTING AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE: beginning September 25th, the absentee voter may come to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM thru 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 8 AM thru 5 PM and Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 9 AM thru 5 PM.

The address for the Cass County Auditor / Election Commissioner is:

DALE SUNDERMAN, CASS COUNTY AUDITOR, COURTHOUSE, 5 W 7TH ST, ATLANTIC, IOWA 50022 (Phone:712-243-4570; FAX:712-243-4572)