A recent decision by the newly established Iowa Legislative Council may have an impact going into the November general election.

The Legislative Council voted to deny the Secretary of State’s Office from mailing absentee ballot request forms to all eligible voters, as he did for the June primary election. This was in an effort to reduce the potential exposure of COVID-19 at the polls. Following what was announced as a record number of absentee ballots, the Legislature wanted to create a separate council to decide on those further actions by the Secretary of State.

Greene County Deputy Auditor Billie Hoskins confirms that they saw a huge jump in absentee ballots this past June.

“We had – I wouldn’t say a record number – but we had more people vote absentee in a primary where there was no locally contested races. But we had a better turnout than we normally would’ve.”

County Auditor Jane Heun adds her comment about the June primary election.

“It actually kind of flipped-flopped. Normally what we had for absentee was probably what showed up at the polls, and what normally would’ve showed up at the polls requested an absentee ballot.”

Heun notes when you fill out a request form for an absentee ballot and return it to her office in the Greene County Courthouse in Jefferson, the actual ballot will not be mailed to you until 29 days before the November election. Click the link below to print a copy of the absentee request form.

https://www.co.greene.ia.us/files/documents/Absenteerequestform1611091740042820AM.pdf