Auditor outlines upcoming primary ballot options

FORT MADISON - Lee County Auditor Denise Fraise announces that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Auditor’s Office is encouraging voters to utilize the absentee voting process for the upcoming June 2nd Primary.

Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Tuesday that his office will be mailing every registered voter an absentee ballot request form in mid-to late April. These forms will be pre-postage paid and will need to be returned to our office in order for a ballot to be sent. The first day a ballot can be mailed is Thursday, April 23rd. The deadline for submitting a request form for a ballot to be mailed is Friday, May 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

Returned ballots, which are also pre-postage paid, must be postmarked by Monday, June 1st. There will be a locked drop box inside the front doors of the County Office Building in Fort Madison and inside the rear door by the handicap ramp entrance at the South Lee Courthouse. These absentee ballots will be opened and counted by a board comprised of representatives of both political parties on Election Day.

For the Primary Election, you must declare a Political Party. This is the parties procedure to nominate their candidate to appear on the November General Election ballot. And please remember to sign the yellow highlighted signature line located on the affidavit return envelope.

Safety of voters and precinct officials is our top priority. Again, I will remind you that on Election Day, there will only be three sites in which you can cast a ballot. Note change since last press release: The Montrose City and Township voters will vote in Donnellson at the Community Center.

Polling places for the 2020 Primary Election will be as follows:
Lee County Office Building at 933 Avenue H, Ft Madison
Fort Madison Wards 1-5, Madison, Jefferson, Washington and Green Bay Townships
Keokuk Courthouse at 25 N 7th Street, Keokuk
Keokuk Wards 1-7 and Jackson

PGSB Comm. Room – Donnellson at 506 N Main Street, Donnellson Cedar, Franklin, Marion, Harrison, Charleston, Des Moines, Van Buren, Denmark, Pleasant Ridge and West Point Townships and the Cities of Franklin, Donnellson, Saint Paul, Houghton and West Point, Montrose Township and City of Montrose

The pandemic has made great changes in our lives. We are all doing things differently to ensure our safety and to stop the spread. This is one way we can stay safe and still make our voices heard.