Iowa residents are aware that candidates campaign almost nonstop in our state. Some relish the political attention, and some grow weary of it. All of us of every opinion can now see election day Nov. 5 is just around the corner. Let’s make sure we are ready.

First, are you registered? To register you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the State of Iowa and be 18 on or before Election Day. Make sure you are ready to vote by checking to see that you are registered at sos.iowa.gov. Those listed as registered with active and inactive voter status can vote. If you are not listed, you can register online at sos.iowa.gov up until Oct. 21. The Secretary of State site will also identify your polling place as well as answer many frequently asked questions.

League of Women Voters of Linn County Mount Vernon-Lisbon Unit registered voters at Chalk the Walk, Heritage Days and Sauerkraut Days. They will also register young voters who will be 18 by election day during fall stops at the two area high schools. If you have been missed and wish to register, go to sos.iowa.gov/elections to register online or go to Lisbon City Hall or Mount Vernon City Hall for a paper voter registration form.

Mount Vernon voters are reminded that polling places changed for many after the 202 Census, but will be the same as those used during the 2022 midterm and 2024 primary elections. A map of precincts 1 and 2 is shown. Precinct 1 votes at St. John’s Catholic Church; Precinct 2 at Mount Vernon City Hall. Voters in Franklin Township and the City of Lisbon continue to vote at Lisbon City Hall Those living in outlying areas should check online or with the Linn County Auditor-Elections.

Linn County Elections office confirms there will be an early voting satellite location Oct. 30 at the Small Athletics and Wellness Center on Cornell College’s campus. Any Linn County voter can place their vote there. If you are not registered, evidence of identity and residence will be required. Early voting at a satellite is voting absentee but with the advantage of having an election official to guide you through the process. Cornell College students gathered the 100 necessary signatures to provide this satellite voting location.

You may know people who don’t vote because they believe their vote doesn’t make a difference. The 2000 presidential election between Bush and Gore was decided by a mere 537 votes. Lisbon High School teacher Amelia Kibbie considered some reasons people do not vote and then cautioned “Our children are watching. We as American citizens of voting age have an obligation to educate the next generation about how our government works (or doesn’t) so that they are empowered to step into a voter’s role in the future.”

In the last election in 2020, voter turnout in Mount Vernon 1 was 81.97 percent. Mount Vernon 2 turnout was 61.71 percent affected by a large population of Cornell College students who may have voted in “home” districts rather than here. Turnout for Franklin Township including City of Lisbon was 84.03 percent, and Linn County overall was 79.64 percent.

Iowa posted a turnout of 75.77 percent. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s efforts to recruit poll workers recently received national recognition by fellow secretaries of state. Pate’s office has helped identify more than 21,000 poll workers in recent years. “Poll workers are our secret weapon to keeping Iowa elections safe and secure,” he said.

Linn County uses hundreds of poll workers for major general elections. For many years, Carol Woods-Boren has served as a chairperson in one of Mount Vernon’s two precincts. She asked some new workers why they decided to serve in this way. Bob Campagna writes, “I agreed to work on elections because I regard it as part of my civic duty. Besides, it was enjoyable and I could meet people.’

Steve and Mary Young also believe that serving as precinct officials is a service to the community. They write “the training offered through the auditor’s office has been excellent. They gave us the information and training needed for us to do the job well. Days are long, but very rewarding.”

Citizens who wish to investigate the process for becoming a precinct official for future elections can go to linncountyiowa.gov/402.

Each election cycle brings new warnings about disinformation and misinformation. With AI images, the challenges for voters become more difficult. For trusted information on the mechanics of voting, look to sos.iowa. gov and Linncountyiowa.gov/vote.

Three contributors from the League of Women Voters Mount Vernon-Lisbon unit (Carol Daly, Sharon Hill and Carol Woods-Boren) relied on information from the Iowa Secretary of State website and the Linn County Auditor’s- Election office in preparation of this article.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Be a confident, informed voter!