More than 278,000 Iowans have already requested absentee ballots this year, roughly one-quarter as many as voted in the 2010 midterm election. As of yesterday, more than 119,000 Iowans had returned absentee ballots to their county auditors, roughly one-third as many as the total number of absentee voters from 2010.
Follow me after the jump for the latest tables showing absentee ballots requested and returned in all four Congressional districts are after the jump. The data come from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. Click here for previous tables going back to September 22.
Iowans who have voted early by mail can use the “track your absentee ballot” page of the Secretary of State’s website to confirm that your ballot reached your county auditor. Most years I have found it easier to vote early in person right at the auditor’s office. That way, you know your ballot has been received.
Following the instructions for absentee voting is critically important. Ballots will not be counted if the voter has not sealed the secrecy envelope, or has not signed the affidavit envelope. If you requested an absentee ballot but can’t find it, or made a mistake while filling it out, contact your county auditor for help. The easiest solution is to visit the county auditor’s office, fill out a form to void the ballot first sent to you, and vote early in person right there.
Absentee ballots requested by Iowa voters as of October 9, 2014
| Congressional district | Democrats | Republicans | no-party voters | Libertarian | Iowa Green | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA-01 | 32,537 | 22,842 | 15,831 | 69 | 36 | 71,315 |
| IA-02 | 34,972 | 23,207 | 15,521 | 63 | 52 | 73,815 |
| IA-03 | 32,965 | 26,870 | 12,534 | 77 | 41 | 72,487 |
| IA-04 | 22,271 | 27,474 | 10,641 | 38 | 19 | 60,443 |
| statewide | 122,745 | 100,393 | 54,527 | 247 | 148 | 278,060 |
Absentee ballots received by Iowa county auditors as of October 9, 2014
| Congressional district | Democrats | Republicans | no-party voters | Libertarian | Iowa Green | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA-01 | 15,373 | 9,810 | 5,651 | 32 | 11 | 30,877 |
| IA-02 | 15,944 | 10,985 | 5,274 | 21 | 21 | 32,245 |
| IA-03 | 13,668 | 10,956 | 3,963 | 22 | 13 | 28,622 |
| IA-04 | 10,894 | 12,441 | 4,046 | 9 | 7 | 27,397 |
| statewide | 55,879 | 44,192 | 18,934 | 84 | 52 | 119,141 |
7 Comments
should i be...
should i be nervous that it seems so close between Democrats and Republicans in votes received? Maybe I’ve just heard so many times how its an important part of the field operation during the summer and fall that I figured it’d be an insurmountable lead ahead of republicans.
natewithglasses Fri 10 Oct 9:37 AM
GOP
what it means is the GOP by necessity has abandoned its long held belief that absentee voting is not done by Real Americans, and they’ve jumped on bandwagon. I believe the Dem ground game has now effectively been negated by the GOP, based on the numbers. Yes, Dems will have more, but not THAT much more. And yeah I know about the target argument but the numbers are too big now.
rockm Fri 10 Oct 4:44 PM
Thanks for playing!
Oh yeah that target argument is as good as gold. The GOP sent every registered Republican a VBM and what we are seeing is STILL a lead and targeted engagement.
Your regulars are voting by mail now , good numbers since your mass mailing hit.
We also have “paid” interns to the tune of 400 and they marshal the volunteers as needed. 35 offices to your 11 , well you get the idea, thanks for playing.
The First Lady was visiting today for Bruce, could it be possible that she energized the college and the black blocs both? Hillary and the Big DOG plus Joe Biden again.
But I still care about you very deeply and I want to send you a Christmas card.
Mike
okoboji-mike Fri 10 Oct 6:02 PM
rockm is not a Republican
With the size of the Democratic field operation, I would have expected a bigger lead in absentee ballot requests at this point. I am aware that Republicans sent their mass mailing to a larger universe. They did so because they knew Democrats had a big head start on canvassing and targeting.
At this point it appears that the Democratic early vote lead will be small (if it exists at all) by election day. Democrats have to hope that 1) they have an edge among the independents who voted early (as in 2012), and 2) their targeting will allow them to do more effective GOTV in the final days leading up to November 4.
desmoinesdem Fri 10 Oct 7:28 PM
I apoligize RockM .
…. Here is the thing, of course the state GOP is not asleep now and the mass mailing was expert at muddying the waters. But up north here in stevieKing (bigot) land there is a definite lack of enthusiasm by the GOP, I call it Steve King fatigue. He is a bigot you know, and I will say that to his face. But even here the D’s have an office open and are working the plan.
Now it is quite possible that the groundgame scenario can be negated by mass mailing , and we will see, but as a plan let it unfold.
I get a little carried away because I see this election as a choice between serious governance and an obstructionist two tier oligarchy. Joni Ernst is a tool of the latter.
In closing again Rock I am sorry if I insulted you and if the GOP mass mailing plan is effective than we are stupid and deserve to lose.
okoboji-mike Sat 11 Oct 10:19 AM
Not to worry
We are on the same page.
rockm Sat 11 Oct 11:44 AM
yes
Democrats may have over-hyped their big advantage in field during the summer and early fall.
We are going to find out whether a larger field operation really can convince presidential year-only voters to show up for a midterm.
desmoinesdem Fri 10 Oct 7:29 PM