Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, reports that ballots for the Nov. 7, 2017 CITY ELECTIONS (Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne, Massena and Wiota) are available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office.  Absentee ballots may be requested by registered voters not going to the assigned voting site on election day, November 7, 2017.   Polls will be open from NOON to 8 p.m. for all cities in Cass County.  Voters unable to go to a voting site on election day may vote prior to election day by paper ballot either (1) IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR during regular office hours at the Cass County Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa or (2) BY MAIL.

The Cass County Auditor recommends that a person unable to go to a voting site on November 7 (election day), request by mail or visit the auditor’s office as soon as they know they are aware of that fact.  For all voting centers that open at noon on election day, absentee ballots may be cast at the county auditor’s office on election day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Friday, November 3rd (Iowa Code 53.2).

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS:

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL, A written request for an absentee ballot must be made on an official absentee ballot request form.

1. Deliver an OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST FORM by mail or personal carrier to the auditor’s office.

Request forms are available at the auditor’s office or on the internet at http://www.sos.iowa.gov  The request must be signed to be valid.

2. When a request is received by the auditor, a ballot will be mailed if the person is a registered elector.  A request for a ballot to be mailed must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3rd.

(If a request is received from a person not registered to vote in Cass County, the person will not be sent an absentee ballot until he/she has registered to vote in Cass County and has completed a new absentee ballot request form.  The auditor will send the person a registration form and an absentee ballot request form.  Note: the registration form must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017.)

3. Upon receipt of the ballot, the voter completes the ballot, seals it in a stamped/preaddressed Return Affidavit Envelope and signs the Voter’s Affidavit on the outside of the envelope.  The envelope is to be returned by mail or hand delivered to the county auditor no later than the close of election polls on November 7, 2017.

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR you may stop in and request a ballot over the counter. The ballot must then be voted immediately in a voting booth located in that office.  The ballot will be sealed in an affidavit envelope by the voter, will be left at the auditor’s office, and will be retained with all other absentee ballots that are cast by mail or in person.  Last day to vote absentee in the office of the county auditor is Tuesday, November 7, 2017 no later than 11 a.m.

On election day a counting board will process/tabulate all absentee ballots.

Office hours for the Cass County Auditor are Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m.  (Auditor’s office will be open until 5 p.m. on October 27, November 3 and November 6)

In order to vote in this election you must be a resident of the respective city and be registered to vote. A person must re-register if that person has moved or has changed his/her name since he/she last registered.  Deadline for mailed registration forms to be delivered to the County Auditor’s office for this election is no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017.  A person may register and vote absentee on the same day, including election day.  The DATE FOR THE REGULAR CITY ELECTION is TUESDAY, November 7, 2017.  The polls open at NOON for all cities in Cass County and all polls close at 8 p.m.

Additional information for the November 7, 2017 CITY ELECTION:

ALL POLLING/VOTING CENTERS for all cities in Cass County will open
                           at 12 noon and close at 8 P.M.

ANITA:  The polling precinct is located at the Anita Community Center, 805 Main St.

ATLANTIC:

• FIRST WARD  –  Zion Lutheran Church, 9th St between Linn St and Oak Street
• SECOND WARD –  Atlantic Public Library, 6th & Poplar Street
• THIRD WARD  –  Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10th Street
• FOURTH WARD –  United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel Street
• FIFTH WARD  –  Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle

CUMBERLAND:  The polling precinct is located at the Cumberland Community Building, 200 W 2nd Street

GRISWOLD:  The polling precinct is located at the Griswold Community Center, 601 2nd Street

LEWIS:  The polling precinct is located at the Lewis Public Library,  412 W Main Street

MARNE:  The polling precinct is located at the Marne City Hall,   402 Washington Street

MASSENA:  The polling precinct is located at the Massena Public Library,  122 Main Street

WIOTA:  The polling precinct is located at the Wiota City Hall, 311 Center Street.