Some Iowa voters are getting warnings about bad ballots — warnings that are incorrect. Union County Auditor Sandy Hysell says her office has heard from people saying they got recorded phone messages that told them their absentee ballot was no good, and they should rip it up and ask for a new one. In Plymouth County officials have discovered about half the absentee ballots sent out last week omitted the race for the fifth congressional district. But Hysell says Union County ballots do not have a mistake on them, and voters should not discard them. Ignore the message, she says. Hysell’s talked to the major political parties and while they know about Plymouth County’s ballot mistake, they also realize it’s only one county, not all 99, and are trying to get the erroneous messages stopped. Hysell says anyone who’s filled out an absentee ballot should get it in without delay to make sure it’s counted in time this election season. After you’ve put the ballot into the affidavit envelope, drop it into a mailbox — she points out the return envelope’s pre-stamped with the correct return postage. There are also other ways to file that absentee ballot once you’ve filled it out. You can bring that ballot to the auditor’s office in person, and couriers also will come around and you can have them pick up your ballot. Hysell says the couriers that pick up the ballots will provide proper identification when requested. If anyone gets a recorded phone message to throw out their absentee ballot, or other instructions they don’t understand, Hysell says you should call the local auditor’s office, tell them about it, and let them clarify what to do and how to cast your vote. Voters in Lee, Louisa and Henry counties were sent supplemental ballots after a judge’s name was left off the original ballot.
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