Voter activity in county follows statewide ‘active’ trend

Voting activity is ahead of traditional benchmarks in Cerro Gordo County, according to Kenneth Kline, Cerro Gordo County Auditor and County Commissioner of Elections.

With the 2012 General Election two weeks away, 5,483 voters have requested absentee ballots in Cerro Gordo County, compared to 2,979 absentee requests at the same point in the 2010 gubernatorial 

election and from the 4,035 requests in the 2008 presidential election, reports Kline.

The pace is on track with the trend statewide.

Secretary of State Matt Schultz, the state’s commissioner of elections, said last week he expects over 40 percent of the votes cast in the 2012 election will be cast before Election Day, with absentee ballots. 

According to the latest data from the secretary of state’s office, absentee ballot requests are “outpacing 2008 by well over 50 percent.” In the 2008 presidential election, 32 percent of the votes cast in Iowa were absentee or “early” ballots. That increased to 35 percent in 2010.  

An eligible voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the county auditor or submit a written request for an absentee ballot to be mailed to the voter.

Written absentee ballot requests should be addressed to the Cerro Gordo County Auditor, 220 N Washington Ave., Mason City, Iowa 50401.  Requests should be mailed soon enough to allow the voted absentee ballot to be received back in the office of the county auditor by the election date.  Absentee requests forms are available at the county auditor’s office, the political parties’ headquarters, and the Cerro Gordo County website, www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us.

Regular courthouse hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  In addition, the office of the Cerro Gordo County Auditor will be open on Saturday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 3.

Persons with questions about absentee voting, voter registration, or the Nov. 6 General Election may contact the office of the county auditor at 641-421-3041, or visit the county’s website at www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us.

In Clear Lake, voting will take place at three sites: Clear Lake Ward 1, Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th St.; Clear Lake Ward 2, Clear Lake City Hall, 15 N. 6th St.; Clear Lake Ward 3, Church of Christ, 2010 14th Ave. N.  

In addition, the Ventura Community Center, 4 N. Weimer, will be the polling site for residents of Clear Lake, Grant and Union Townships.