ELECTION RESOURCES FOR SIMPSON STUDENTS

 Simpson’s student-led voter engagement team at the Culver Public Policy Center has created this page to update students about voting and elections.

If students have any questions or concerns about voting, call the Iowa Voter Hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE or visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s Voter Ready website at voterready.iowa.gov.

Check your Iowa voter registration status

Important Dates and Deadlines

First day of Absentee Voting in Iowa (in person at County Auditor offices or by mail)

Iowa Pre-registration Deadline; Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot from County Auditor

Simpson College lease agreements distributed to mailboxes of all students living on campus; lease agreement is needed to register to vote in Iowa after October 21

Satellite Polling Place in Kent Atrium, 9am – 3pm (open to all voters registered in Warren County, Iowa)

Warren County Auditor’s office open 7am – 3pm for in-person absentee voting (Warren County Administration Building, 301 North Buxton St.)

Last day of Absentee Voting in person at County Auditor offices in Iowa

ELECTION DAY:

  • Polls open in Iowa from 7:00am to 8:00pm CT
  • Free shuttle service to the polls, 12 – 2pm and 4 – 7pm (Kent Campus Center west side – near loading dock)
  • ALL VOTERS MUST PRESENT VALID PHOTO ID OR IOWA VOTER ID CARD AT THE POLLS
  • Absentee ballots must be received in your County Auditor’s office prior to 8:00 pm CT on Election Day

Early Absentee Voting – In Person

Early absentee voting in Iowa runs from October 16 through November 4, 2024.

The deadline for advance voter registration for the 2024 general election is Monday, October 21. Voters may also register to vote in person at the polls on Election Day or at their county auditor’s office or an official satellite polling place during the early voting period. Those wishing to take advantage of same-day registration must present valid photo ID and proof of residence (for students living on campus, check your mailbox in Kent on or after October 22 for a copy of your lease agreement showing your current campus residence).

Simpson College is hosting an early voting satellite polling place in the first-floor atrium of Kent Campus Center on Wednesday, October 23, 9:00am – 3:00pm. The satellite polling place is open to all voters registered in Warren County, Iowa.

Students registered to vote at their campus address (or anywhere in Warren County) may also vote early in person at the Warren County Auditor’s office at 301 North Buxton Street. The Warren County Administration Building is just steps from campus – across Clinton Avenue from Carver Science Center and Smith Chapel.

Early voting dates are:

  • Weekdays: October 16 through November 4, 8:00am – 4:30pm
  • Saturday, November 2, 7:00 am – 3:00pm

Absentee Voting by Mail

Students from Iowa may wish to vote absentee from their home address. To cast an absentee ballot by mail, Iowa residents who are already registered at their home address can fill out this form. Once completed, the absentee ballot request must be mailed to their county auditor, who will then mail that student their ballot. Iowa residents who request an absentee ballot can track their ballot here.

The original, signed request form for the 2024 General Election must be received in your county auditor’s office by 5:00 p.m. CT on Monday, October 21 (fifteen days prior to Election Day).

All absentee ballots must be received by your county auditor by 8:00pm CT on Election Day – Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Out of State Students

Out-of-state students may be able to vote by mail if they are registered in their home state. Out-of-state students can find their state’s election rules and deadlines here. Out-of-state students can always register using their campus address and vote in Iowa if they choose. Iowa does not offer online voter registration for out-of-state students, so please submit a paper form by October 21 or follow the instructions above to register in person after October 21.

 

Election Day Voting

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. An altered class schedule will be observed that day to allow everyone the opportunity to vote. The break in classes between 12:05 p.m. and 2 p.m. provides a great opportunity to visit the appropriate polling location and cast a ballot.

What to bring on Election Day

Students voting in-person on Election Day have two options:

  1. Students not registered to vote will need to bring a valid photo ID and Simpson College lease agreement to the polling location in order to complete same-day registration. Lease agreements will be distributed to student mailboxes on October 22.
  2. Students registered to vote at their current address will only need to bring a valid photo ID to the polling location (Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID, U.S. Passport, Military ID, Tribal ID). Out of state students who are registered to vote in Warren County must present their Iowa Voter ID card in lieu of an Iowa driver’s license.

Free Shuttle to the Polls on Election Day

The Culver Public Policy Center and Office of Student Accessibility Services are offering free shuttle van rides to the polls on Election Day, 12:00 – 2:00pm and 4:00 – 7:00pm. Shuttles will depart from the west side (loading dock side) of Kent Campus Center and will run on a loop.

Polling Locations

Students voting on Election Day will need to go to the correct polling locations matching their precinct:

PRECINCT 2: Thrive Church – 707 E. Euclid Ave.

  • Barker Hall
  • Kresge Hall
  • Colonial House
  • Station Square Apartments
  • Washington House
  • Delta Delta Delta
  • Pi Beta Phi

PRECINCT 3: Indianola Country Club – 1610 Country Club Rd.

  • Buxton Hall
  • Picken Hall
  • Detroit Apartments
  • Weinman Apartments
  • Alpha Tau Omega
  • Kappa Theta Psi
  • Lambda Chi Alpha
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma
  • Theme House 2
  • Theme House 3
  • Theme House 4 – Performing Arts (PA) House
  • Theme House 8 – Women’s & Gender Resource Ctr

PRECINCT 6: Masonic Lodge #53 – 1606 W. 2nd Ave.

  • Clinton Apartments
  • Hamilton House  

 

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