Early voting now in progress at Hamilton County Courthouse

Absentee ballots mailed out Wednesday

It's time for another election, says Hamilton County auditor Kim Schaa.

The auditors office mailed out ballots Wednesday, and early voting began the same day.

Schaa said that all early voters need to fill out a form that is located at a table when they first arrive at the courthouse, then bring it to the auditors window.

"I think we had 122 vote yesterday at the window," she said.

Schaa said everyone needs to have their photo i.d. With them, with the correct address.

"I don't think we haven't had anybody come in without identification. If the address is not on the drivers license , there is a list of acceptable documents they can bring in to confirm their current address."

But that doesn't happen often.

"We don't have very many without the correct address on it," she said.

This is an important part of the process, as there are 25 different ballots that are being handled, with each township having different ballots.

"When they come to the window to vote, we go into the voter registration file, and make sure the address in the file is what is on their id, and that tells us what township they vote in," she said.

Right now the auditors are busy trying to handle the election process in addition to the remainder of their job.

"We are just processing voters and trying to get the rest of our work done in between," she said. "It's been busy to say the least. I think we have 8 booths set up in the lobby and there have been times that all 8 have been full."

It's simpler if the voter lives in the city limits of Webster City. The City of Webster City has three precincts, and they all vote at the Ed Prince building."

There will be one Saturday that the courthouse will be open for voters.

"We will be open on Saturday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for early voting," said Shea.

It's state law to be open on the Saturday before the election, according to Schaa..

"The last day to vote at the courthouse is the Monday before the election. On election day you have to go to the polls."

There is a constitutional amendment that is on each of the different ballots which affects the way taxes are changes. The amendment reads as follows:

Shall the following amendment to the Constitution be adopted?

Summary: Provides that any bill to increase the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature for passage. Further, the two-thirds majority vote requirement applies to the passage of a bill to establish a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state. The requirement excludes taxes imposed at the option of a local government. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment.

Full Text: The Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended by adding the following new section to new Article XIII: Passage of a bill that increases the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. This requirement does not apply to taxes imposed at the option of a local government. Passage of a bill that establishes a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment. If such a lawsuit is not filed within the one-year limit, the bill shall be considered properly enacted under this section. Each bill to which this section applies must include a separate provision describing the requirements for enactment prescribed by this section. The general assembly shall enact laws to implement this section.

November 8 is election day. Be sure to read through the list of candidates, talk about the constitutional amendment and know how you want to vote before you go to your voting location.