IOWA
how to vote FROM YOUR HOSPITAL BED
EASY STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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DeADLINES TO NOTE
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The request form must be received in the county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election.
FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE
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Absentee Voting at Health Care Facilities
You may request an absentee ballot if you live in a designated health care facility or are currently residing in a hospital.
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Request Deadline
The request form must be received in the county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election.
If you were admitted to the health care facility or hospital on the Saturday, Sunday, or Monday before election day, you may contact the county auditor directly to request an absentee ballot.
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Receiving the Ballot
Under Iowa law, a bipartisan team of election officials must deliver the absentee ballot to you. The county auditor will notify you when the team will be delivering the ballot to you. If you will not be available during that time, you may notify the county auditor of another time that will be more convenient for you.
The team members will give you your absentee ballot and wait while you mark it. If you need help marking your ballot, you may have someone assist you. You may choose anyone except your employer, your employer’s agent, or an officer/agent of your union. You may also ask the team members for help. You will be asked to sign a form showing you asked for help. If you are not physically able to sign the forms, you can use a rubber stamp or mark to sign. You may also ask for assistance or have someone sign the form on your behalf as long as it is in your presence and with your permission.
The team members will return your voted ballot to the county auditor’s office.
The team members are required by law to travel together and stay together while they deliver ballots and while voters mark the ballot.
STATE LAW
Iowa
Iowa Code § 53.22(2)
Voters hospitalized within three days of the election can request an absentee ballot within four hours of the polls closing.