East Central Iowa News

Hardin County is preparing for more mail-in ballots this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and other county auditors encouraging absentee voting. 

“A presidential year is always really, really big,” Hardin County Auditor Jessica Lara told KIFG. “Add to that [COVID-19], and it’s a hot mess.”

Iowa's primary election saw 82% of voters cast an absentee ballot, with the state expecting many more to vote absentee for the general election. 

But the county auditor's office said it is prepared to handle the volume. 

“With absentees, the bulk of the work is [at the courthouse] and we know how to handle it,” Lara told KIFG. “It’ll just be that the volume coming in is going to be that much bigger.”

Many people will be first-time absentee ballot voters this year and with all the safety changes to voting and options available, it's causing confusion. 

“It’s been incredibly challenging this year,” Lara told KIFG. “There are a lot more people with an interest in voting by absentee than there ever has been. Whether it’s COVID or they just decided they don’t want to go in person. Every day we get new emails and guidance about what we can and can’t do."