(State/Area News) – Iowans will head to their polling sites Tuesday, November 7, 2023, to cast ballots in their respective county for City and School Elections. The polls are Tuesday from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m.  A reminder from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office: Absentee ballots must be received by the respective county auditor by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Iowans looking for their polling location, Voter ID requirements or to track the status of their absentee ballot should visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov. All 99 counties will conduct post-election audits for the City-School Election. On Wednesday, November 8, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office will conduct a random drawing to select one precinct in each county to be audited.

In the KJAN listening area, here are just a few of the contested races we will be following (The results will be posted on our News page soon after they come in from the county auditor’s offices or the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, whichever comes first):

In Cass County, Ben Daughenbaugh and Kevin Littleton are vying to become Mayor, in Anita, while three people are running for two seats on the Anita City Council. They include Mark Harms, Cheryl Sokol and Roger L. Huffman. In Atlantic, incumbent Pat McCurdy faces a challenge from Mike McDermott for the City Council Ward 3 seat, and, incumbent Linda J. Hartkopf is being challenged for the Ward 4 seat by Shawn Sarsfield.

In Lewis, Rick Sanny and Russell Hansen are running for Mayor. Seven candidates are running for three seats on the Lewis City Council: Roy O. Wheatley; Betty F. Auten; Russell L. Miller; Leland M. Baxter; Roger Lockwood; Larry W. Perdue, Jr., & Donna Roberts. And, there are five candidates for three At-Large seats on the Atlantic School Board, including: Kristen Holoday; Gini Jordan; Jordan Dailey; Jodi Stowater-Goodrich, and, incumbent Laura McLean.

In Adair County, Joanne Byars and Kim Hodne are running to become Mayor in Adair. Seven candidates are running for 3 At-Large seats on the Adair City Council. There are also three candidates for two Director At-Large seats on the Adair-Casey School Board, and a Public Measure with regard to the adoption/renewal of a Revenue Purpose Statement.  In Bridgwater, two candidates are running to fill a vacancy seat on the city council. Four people are running to fill 3 At-Large seats on the city council in Casey. There are also 3 candidates running to fill 3 At-Large vacancy seats on the Fontanelle City Council, and three running for two At-Large seats on the city council in Stuart.

Voters in Adams County will select 2 of three candidates for At-Large Lenox School Board Director, and there are Public Measures to vote on in Corning as well as Prescott.

In Audubon County, five candidates are vying for two seats on the Audubon City Council, Tuesday. There’s also a Public Measure for Audubon residents to vote on, with regard to a 1% local sales & service tax for street construction and repair. Three people are running to become Mayor in Brayton. Four candidates are running for three seats on the Brayton City Council. Exira voters will decide the fate of a Public Measure pertaining to the composition of the Library Board of Trustees. Three candidates are running for two seats on the City Council in Kimballton, and five people are running for 3 At-Large seats on the Audubon School Board, while only three people have filed to run for 4 At-Large seats on the Exira-EHK School Board.

Other City races can be found: in Guthrie County, and, for the Panorama School District; The Mayor’s contest in Grant and City Council At-Large in Villisca; Council elections in Avoca, Walnut, Elk Horn, and Harlan, and School Board elections in the Riverside, Tri-Center and IKM-Manning School Districts, along with a variety of Public Measures in those communities and/or school districts.