The vote must go on

HOWARD COUNTY - The primary election is still taking place on June 2, 2020. Candidates had to have their nomination papers into the Auditor’s office by March 25 at 5 p.m.

Local, state and federal seats up for election, and those who turned in their papers include:

• Howard County Sheriff

~Tim Beckman – Republican

~ Adam Hanson – Democrat

• County Auditor

~ Julie Chapman – D

• Country Board of Supervisors, 1st District

~ Bill Caffrey – R

~ Pat Murray – D

• State Representative, 51st District

~ Jane Bloomingdale – R

~ Jane Podgorniak – D

• State Senator, 26th District

Waylon Brown – R

• United States Representative, 1st District

~ Thomas Hansen – R

~ Ashley Hinson – R

~ Abby Finkenauer – D

• United States Senator

~ Joni Ernst – R

~ Michael Franken – D

~ Kimberly Graham – D

~ Theresa Greenfield – D

~ Eddie J. Mauro – D

~ Cal Woods – D

 

Secretary of State Paul Pate is extending the absentee voting period to 40 days for Iowans who choose to vote by mail in the June primary. He is also encouraging Iowans to cast ballots by mail, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This change will allow voters more time to send their ballots and provide county auditors a longer window for processing.

Secretary Pate said, “We still plan on having polls open on June 2 for voters who prefer to cast ballots in-person, but this effort will help reduce the risk of infecting others.”

Curbside voting, as always, is an option for Iowans with disabilities and those who might have difficulty entering a polling place. This option will also be available in the June primary to voters who are in the high-risk population for coronavirus. 

The absentee voting period for mailed ballots in the June primary will begin on April 23. Iowans can request an absentee ballot from their county auditor now. For more information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

The Secretary of State has the authority to extend the absentee voting period during a disaster under the provisions of Iowa Code section 47.1.