As of yesterday, the number of registered Republicans who had returned absentee ballots to county auditors (138,362) exceeds the total early Republican vote in the 2010 Iowa general election (136,243). Ballots returned by registered Democrats and no-party voters are likely to exceed 2010 early voting levels today or tomorrow.
Statewide, Democrats have returned about 5,000 more absentee ballots to county auditors than Republicans have, but they also have a lower return rate. Roughly 56,000 Democrats have requested but not yet returned absentee ballots, compared to about 38,000 ballots outstanding for Republicans and 38,000 outstanding for no-party voters. Every 11,000 to 12,000 ballots left on the table represents roughly 1 percent of the expected total vote in the 2014 general election.
For Iowans who have not yet returned their absentee ballots, the safest options are to hand-deliver the completed ballot to the county auditor’s office, or to take it to the post office and demand a postmark for the envelope. Late-arriving mailed ballots with no postmark will not be counted.
Iowans cannot turn in completed absentee ballots at their regular polling place on election day. However, they may go to their precinct polling place next Tuesday, surrender their unreturned absentee ballot to poll workers, and receive a new ballot to fill out like other election-day voters.
I’ve enclosed below the latest data on absentee ballots requested and returned statewide and in each of Iowa’s four Congressional districts. All figures come from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. Click here for previous tables going back to September 22.
Absentee ballots requested by Iowa voters as of October 28, 2014
| Congressional district | Democrats | Republicans | no-party voters | Libertarian | Iowa Green | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA-01 | 52,995 | 40,606 | 30,107 | 146 | 65 | 123,919 |
| IA-02 | 56,872 | 40,474 | 29,106 | 151 | 88 | 126,691 |
| IA-03 | 52,017 | 46,230 | 23,224 | 149 | 60 | 121,680 |
| IA-04 | 37,682 | 49,584 | 22,279 | 97 | 38 | 109,680 |
| statewide | 199,566 | 176,894 | 104,716 | 543 | 251 | 481,970 |
Absentee ballots received by Iowa county auditors as of October 28, 2014
| Congressional district | Democrats | Republicans | no-party voters | Libertarian | Iowa Green | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA-01 | 39,119 | 32,183 | 19,739 | 94 | 36 | 91,171 |
| IA-02 | 41,275 | 32,656 | 18,601 | 87 | 61 | 92,680 |
| IA-03 | 34,874 | 34,411 | 13,514 | 79 | 35 | 82,913 |
| IA-04 | 28,239 | 39,112 | 14,769 | 61 | 23 | 82,204 |
| statewide | 143,507 | 138,362 | 66,623 | 321 | 155 | 348,968 |
4 Comments
Today
I took my aunt to vote today and she told me she voted a straight Democratic ticket in Davenport. I also posted a message on facebook offering help to anyone who needs it in getting to the polling places. I really hope we get this thing pulled out!!
leja2016 Wed 29 Oct 1:07 PM
Voters
My cousin told me she is sending her ballot in (I got on her about that) asap. Another aunt sent her ballot in already. One cousin wants to vote on election day. A friend is voting on the weekend this weekend at a satellite location. I am waiting to hear from others. I hope others are really trying to make sure everyone gets to the polls. All of the people I tagged are first time mid-term voters. And one isn’t registered yet and is a student at St. Ambrose, can she still register?
leja2016 Wed 29 Oct 1:12 PM
tell your cousin
She needs to get a postmark on that ballot if it hasn’t already gone in the mail, or she should hand-deliver it. I am really worried about the potential number of late-arriving absentees with no postmark.
Iowa has same-day voter registration so yes, a student at St. Ambrose can register and vote. She will have to bring some photo ID and proof of address to do that. She can go to the Scott County auditor’s office Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Monday to vote, or she can vote on election day.
desmoinesdem Wed 29 Oct 7:01 PM
my relatives
Called everyone in the family and they all voted R.
se Wed 29 Oct 9:47 PM