Voters around the country—including those in Clayton County—will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for the general election, in which federal and state officers, members of Congress and of the general assembly, county and township officers and other officers will appear on the ballot.
Absentee voting is already underway. For those voting absentee, all ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be considered on time to be counted. Extended hours are available for voter registration and absentee voting in the Clayton County Election Office at 111 High St. NE, in Elkader. In addition to the regular hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended hours will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. In-person absentee voting closes at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Precincts and Polling Locations
Boardman-Highland-Reed: Clayton County Office Building, 600 Gunder Road NE, Elkader
Buena Vista-Millville: Millville County Shop, 35180 Highway 52, Guttenberg
Cass: Strawberry Point Civic Center, 401 Commercial St.
Clayton-Garnavillo: Garnavillo Community Building, 106 W. Niagara St.
Cox Creek-Sperry: St. Paul’s Fellowship Hall, 700 Washington St., Volga
Elk-Mallory-Volga: Elkport-Garber Community Center, 120 Main St., Elkport
Farmersburg-Wagner: Farmersburg Community Center, 107 S. Main St.
Giard-Monona: Monona Community Center, 104 S. Egbert St.
Grand Meadow-Marion: Turner Hall, 119 E. Greene St., Postville
Jefferson: Guttenberg Municipal Building, 502 First St.
Lodomillo: Edgewood City Hall, 203 W. Union St.
Mendon: Marquette Community Center, 102 North St.
Who’s on the ballot?
Democrat Josh Turek, Republican Ashley Hinson and Libertarian Thomas Laehn will square off to represent Iowa in the United States Senate.
In the race for U.S. Representative for District 2, the ballot includes Democrat Lindsay James, Republican Joe Mitchell, Libertarian Rick Stewart and independent Dave Bushaw.
The top race at the state level is for governor/lieutenant governor, where Rob Sand and Dave Muhlbauer are on the Democratic ticket and Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf are on the Republican ticket.
For Secretary of State, Democrat Ryan Peterman is challenging incumbent Paul D. Pate, a Republican.
With Rob Sand running for governor, a new Auditor of State will be elected. Candidates include Democrat Taylor Wettach and Republican Chris Cournoyer.
For Treasurer of State, Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General, Republicans Roby Smith, Mike Naig and Brenna Bird are all seeking reelection to their respective offices. Their Democratic challengers are John Norwood, Chris Jones and Nate Willems.
Jason Gearhart, a Republican, is vying for his second term as representative of State House District 64. Democrat Brian Bruening is his opponent.
At the county level, four candidates are seeking two open seats on the Clayton County Board of Supervisors. This includes incumbent Doug Reimer as well newcomers Brian Harbaugh, also a Republican, and Democrats Eric Grau and Randall Laughead.
County Treasurer Linda Zuercher, County Recorder Josie Fettkether and County Attorney Zach Herrmann, who are all Republican incumbents, are running unopposed.
Local voters will also consider two nonpartisan offices. For Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner, Travis Anderson and Scott Hilgerson are running for two available seats. Five spots are open on the County Agricultural Extension Council, with five candidates—Steve J. Ruzicka, Beth Lincoln, Jeremy Schultz, Cindy Schoulte Petsche and Kaitlin Landon—on the ballot.
On the judicial section of the ballot, voters are asked if Julie A. Schumacher, Sharon Soorholtz Greer and John M. Sandy should be retained for the Court of Appeals. Retention of Alan Heavens as judge of District Court 1A, Stephanie C. Rattenborg and Mark T. Hostager as associate judges of District Court 1A and Thomas J. Straka as associate juvenile judge of District Court 1A is up for consideration as well.
Additionally, voters will mark “yes” or “no” regarding adoption of a constitutional amendment. The summary states the amendment provides that any bill to increase the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature for passage. Further, the two-thirds majority vote requirement applies to the passage of a bill to establish a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state. The requirement excludes taxes imposed at the option of a local government. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment.
Learn more
Find more information on the Clayton County elections website at https://elections.claytoncountyia.gov/.
Recently, Clayton County Auditor Jennifer Garms also clarified a social media post that has been circulating claiming that, if a poll worker writes anything on your ballot before giving it to you, your ballot will be disqualified. Garms said this is misleading and does not accurately explain Iowa election law.
“Under Iowa Code § 49.82, a precinct election official is required to place their initials on each ballot issued to a voter. A ballot is not disqualified simply because an election official has made the legally required endorsement,” Garms explained in a Facebook post. “If you have a concern about an unexpected mark on your ballot, ask the precinct election officials for clarification before casting it. If you make a mistake on your ballot, Iowa Code provides a process for returning a spoiled ballot and receiving a replacement, up to three ballots total.”
Those with further questions can contact the auditor’s office at 563-245-1106.
