As novel coronavirus 2019 continues to spread across Iowa with no prediction on when it will diminish, concerns have been raised about voting in the June primary election.
To address the issue, Secretary of State Paul Pate announced he is extending the absentee voting period to 40 days in order to give people enough time to receive and return their ballots. Pate would like most Iowans to vote by mail given the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and he believes starting the process earlier than normal will help achieve that goal. With the extension, absentee ballots will be available starting April 23rd, and they’ll have until June 1st to get them in the mail for the June 2nd primary.
Pate said in a statement, “The safety of voters takes precedence, and by encouraging Iowans to vote absentee, we can reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19. We still plan on having polls open on June 2nd for voters who prefer to cast ballots in-person, but this effort will help reduce the risk of infecting others.”
Pate also points out that curbside voting usually offered to handicapped and elderly people will also be available for voters at a high risk of contracting the coronavirus. Absentee ballots can be requested now by contacting your respective county auditor. For more information, click the link below.