Today’s the day – final chance to vote

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

People have been voting in the current general election in Iowa since Oct. 5, but today – Tuesday – is really the last chance voters have to cast their ballots.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Monday more than 200 people voted absentee in person at the courthouse, according to Floyd County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Gloria Carr.

She said 4,780 absentee ballots had been received either by mail or through early in-person voting as of the end of office hours Monday. There are still 106 absentee ballots that were sent out that haven’t been received yet, she said.

People who still have an absentee ballot they haven’t returned can take it to the auditor’s office or drop it in the dropbox at the entrance to the courthouse yet today. Absentee ballots received by 9 p.m. today will be counted, Carr said.

It’s too late to mail back an absentee ballot. Mailed ballots needed to be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 2, and must be received in the Auditor’s Office through the mail by noon Monday, Nov. 9, to be counted.

In Floyd County, two of the usual polling sites have been closed because of lack of experienced poll workers, Carr had previously announced.

People who usually vote at the Marble Rock Library, which includes people from the city of Marble Rock plus Scott, Union and Pleasant Grove townships, will vote in Rockford at the Community Center

People who usually vote at the Cedar Valley Transportation Center, which includes voters from the incorporated part of Nashua in Floyd County plus the St. Charles and Riverton townships, will vote at the courthouse.

Carr said precautions have been taken at the polling sites regarding COVID-19.

While masks are encouraged for voters, they cannot be mandated, she said.

The county will have plexiglass barriers, social distance markings and new voting booths that can be sanitized after each use. Hand sanitizer will be available and poll workers will be wearing gloves and masks and/or face shields.

“We have good measures in place for our polling places,” Carr said.

Results are unofficial until the election is canvassed by the county Board of Supervisors, which this year will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Here are the polling sites for today’s election in Floyd County:

• Floyd County Courthouse — Charles City Precinct 1, St. Charles Township, Riverton Township, Nashua Corp.

• Messiah Lutheran Church — Charles City Precinct 2.

• Trinity United Methodist Church — Charles City Precinct 3.

• Floyd Community Center — Floyd-Colwell Corp., Floyd Township, Cedar Township, Niles Township.

• Nora Springs City Hall — Nora Springs-Rudd Corp., Rock Grove Township, Rudd Township.

• Rockford Community Center — Rockford Corp., Rockford Township, Ulster Township, Marble Rock Corp., Scott Township, Union Township, Pleasant Grove Township.