Cherokee County, Iowa Auditor's office provides general voting information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

 

County Seat
Cherokee County Courthouse
520 West Main
Cherokee, IA 51012


Cherokee County, Iowa - Voting Information & FAQ's

To be a voter you must:
    Be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older.
    Be registered in Cherokee County.

Party Information:
You may register with or without a party affiliation. However, if you wish to vote in any Primary election, you must declare a party. Only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote in their respective Party Primary.

However, if a No Party voter wishes to change their affiliation, they can do so by mail advising the Auditor’s Office they wish to change or on Election day by declaring a party choice on that day and changing their original No Party choice.

Absentee Voting:

Request by Mail:

Request for a ballot should be made by mail to the Commissioner of Elections no earlier than 70 days prior to an election.

In requesting an absentee ballot, state your name, voting address, the address to which your ballot should be sent, party affiliation (Primary Election) and sign request as you are registered.

In Person:
Absentee votes may be cast in person at the Cherokee County Auditor’s Office, as soon as ballots are available.

Armed Forces:
Those in the Armed Forces need not register if they vote a military ballot. The request constitutes registration with a Cherokee County address.

Patient or Resident of a Hospital or Health Care Facility (For Federal Elections Only)
Any qualified elector who becomes a patient or resident of a hospital or health care facility within three days prior to the date of an election, may request an absentee ballot during that period or on Election day Requestor may also telephone the commissioner no later than four hours before the close of the polls. If the request is in order, an absentee ballot will be personally delivered.


FAQ's about Voting

Q. I am currently a “No Party” voter registered in Cherokee County. I would like to affiliate with a party so I can participate in my respective party’s primary or caucus. Will completing and sending in a voter registration form with the appropriate party selected do that for me or are there other steps I need to take?
A. Completing a voter registration form with party affiliation selected will change your status. Another way is to fill out an absentee request for a primary and select the political party ballot you wish to receive, your registration will be changed to the party you check on the absentee request.

Q. While deployed I signed up to receive absentee ballots. How do I stop this service now that I have returned home?
A. One FPCA will allow you to receive all ballots for Federal Offices through two regularly scheduled general elections for federal office. FVAP recommends that each voter submit an FPCA to their state of legal residence in January of each year and again each time there is a change in the voters’ mailing address.

Q. I am registered to vote, but I have lost my card. How do I request a replacement card?
A. Call our office at (712) 225-6704.

Q. I filled out and mailed a voter registration card, but realized that I did not check the questions on the top. Should I send in a new one?
A. Call our office at (712) 225-6704. We must verify that you are a citizen and will be at least 18 at the time of the election. We will check this status with your name, birth date, and ID number (Drivers license number, non-driver ID card or last 4 digits of your social security number). If they do not match, your registration will be rejected and you will be notified by mail. If you sign the form and you are not a United States Citizen or you will not be 18 years of age on or before Election day, you can be convicted of perjury and fined up to $7,500 and/or jailed for up to 5 years.

Q. I have moved to a new address. How do I update my voter registration card?
A. When you change your name, address, or other data, you will need to update your registration by completing a new form.

Q. How do I know where to vote?
A. Your general election polling site is listed on your voter registration card. Please note that your polling place may differ based on the type of the election. Call our office to verify for school and city elections.

Q. I registered to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles and did not receive a registration. How can this happen?
A. Inaccurate information is on the form and a contact phone number is not available. Always double check to make sure your correct address, street name, street direction, and city is correct. Call our office at (712) 225-6704 if you do not receive a notice from our office within two weeks of registering to vote.

Q. Can I request an absentee ballot via email or fax?
A. Yes, voters may submit absentee ballot requests by email or fax. The voter must also mail the original signed copy of the form or the ballot cannot be counted. The original application must be postmarked on or before the Monday before Election day and received by the Friday after the election.

Q. Can you tell me if I am registered to vote?
A. The Secretary of State has a webpage to verify your voter registration at http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterReg/RegToVote/search.aspx or call our office (712) 225-6704.

Q. We are moving out of State. What do we need to do to remove our names from the voter registration list?
A. You will need to register to vote in the county you will be living in. Your registration cannot be transferred to another state; however, once you have registered to vote in the county you will be living in, your registration in our county will be canceled.

Q. I will be out of town for the next election; can I come to your office to vote before the election.