Request an absentee ballot. Sorry you can't do it online. For any election, the first day the County Auditor can accept absentee ballot requests is 70 days prior to the election. You’ll need to print an absentee ballot request form. Our Story County Auditor has designed a form that is pre-addressed and folds so you don't need an envelope and it's postage paid! Your form needs to be AT your county auditor’s office – not still in the mail –15 days before the Election.
Here's the link: https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/265/Absentee-Ballot-Request-Form?bidId=
If you don’t have a printer at home, email your name and address to storycountydemocrats@gmail.com and we will mail one to Story County registered voters.
Fill out the request form correctly! Make sure you’ve filled out all of the appropriate boxes including any apartment or dorm room number. Your phone number and email might take an extra minute but it means that your county election officials can reach out if there are any issues with your request or ballot.
Wait for your ballot to be mailed to you. The first day absentee ballots are mailed out is 20 days before an Election.
Fill out your ballot and return it! Mail it ASAP or return it directly to the Auditor’s Office during business hours. The outside 24 hour dropbox is no longer available due to changes in the law.
Absentee Voting is safe and convenient but you MUST return your ballot on time! Allow ample time if mailing it or return it directly to the County Auditor. Every Absentee Ballot that is returned on time is counted. It is not true that they are only counted in close races.
Your ballot needs to be AT your county auditor’s office – not still in the mail – by 8 PM on Election Day. If you cannot return your ballot in time, take it to your polling place on Election Day and vote a regular ballot. If your ballot is lost or still in the mail, ask to vote a provisional ballot at your polling place on Election Day.
Ballots received late will not be counted.
Republicans have passed restrictions about when,and how absentee ballots may be returned and who may return them. You may designate someone to return your ballot under one of following circumstances:
The designee is an immediate family member.
The designee is a member of your household.
You are disabled and you have designed someone to return your ballot.
Directions and rules for designating someone to return your ballot are included in the official instructions included with your mailed ballot.
More information is available from the Story County Auditor-https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/FAQ.aspx?TID=42
and the Iowa Secretary of State-https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html
A summary of Absentee Voting law changes can be found at:
https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12687/2021-Election-Law-Changes-for-Iowa-Voters