Linn County Auditor Predicts Record Voter Turnout in November

CBS2 reports that Linn County has received 13,000 requests for absentee ballots after the county mailed out forms to more than 100,000 residents last week. Johnson County sent out request forms on Monday. That has Linn County Auditor Joel Miller predicting a huge voter turnout for the election this November.

Miller told CBS2 that the 2020 Presidential Election is tracking to be a record-breaking 80% turnout. That despite between 10,000 and 15,000 Iowans not being registered to vote. In case you were wondering, the 2016 Presidential election had a voter turnout rate of 76%. Linn County will have mailed out 140,000 forms by the end of today.

There are some things, however, that could threaten that voter turnout. CBS2 reports that the United States Postal Service projects mailing delays during the month of November. Miller said that could be a problem with only 29 days of early voting. Miller said it's important for people to "vote it, get it in the mail, or drop it off." To help eliminate some of those concerts, the county has set up three drop boxes at area Hy-Vee stores. There is a fourth bin at the Public Service Center.

Another concern is not having enough volunteers to work at polling places. Miller told CBS2 that processing forms in July and August allow the auditor's office to know how many temporary workers will be needed at each election site.

Absentee ballots will be mailed out to Linn County residents on October 5th.