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1. Can I sign up to automatically get an absentee ballot for every election?

Some states allow you to sign up for an automatic absentee ballot for every election, but in Iowa you must request an absentee ballot in writing for each election. The only exception: members of the military or persons living outside the United States may complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and receive ballots for all elections through the end of the year. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

2. When are the ballots sent out?

By law ballots must be ready 40 days before primary and general elections. The law does not specify when ballots must be ready for other types of elections, but usually they are available two to three weeks before an election. As soon as ballots are available, they are sent to everyone who has requested a ballot up to that time. Requests that are received after ballots are ready are processed and sent out within the next business day. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

3. When is the first and last day to apply for an absentee ballot?

State law no longer specifies the first day you can request an absentee ballot. (Until 2004, voters could not request a ballot until 70 days before an election; that restriction has been removed.) The deadline to request a ballot by mail is the Friday before an election. You may still vote early in person at our office through the day before the election. If you are voting by mail your ballot must be postmarked the day before the election or returned in person to our office on Election Day by the close of the polls. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Who may vote an absentee ballot?

Any registered voter may vote early for any reason in any election. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

5. What information must be included in my application?

Include your printed name, your Clayton County address, the address you want the absentee ballot sent to (if different than your registration address), birth date, and the date and name of the election. In addition, you must sign and date your application. For partisan primary elections (June, even numbered years), you must include your party affiliation. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

6. I'm moving before the election. Can I request a ballot? Which address should I list?

If you know the address to which you will be moving, we recommend that you complete a new voter registration application indicating your new address and the date you will be moving. Request your ballot for the new address. We will then process your address change and absentee request after the date you listed. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

7. Can I request a ballot by e-mail?

No. The law requires a signature. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

8. Can I request a ballot by fax?

We can mail you your ballot if we receive a faxed request. However, in order for your vote to be counted, you must mail us the original signed request, and we must receive it by the day before the election. A faxed request is only recommended if your ballot needs to be mailed a great distance. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

9. Can I request / pick up an absentee ballot for someone else?

You may pick up a request form for someone else, but the law requires a signature from the voter. You may bring a request form to someone, have them sign it, and bring or send the form back to our office. We must mail the ballot directly to that voter. You may mail multiple requests in the same envelope. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

10. Can I take a ballot home with me?

No. Iowa law does not allow us to give you a ballot to take home. You can either vote right away in our office or we can mail you your ballot. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

11. If I lose my absentee ballot, can I get another one?

Yes. However, you must sign a statement that you have lost or did not receive the first absentee ballot. Our office keeps a record of each request, and provides a list of these requests to the polling place to ensure that each voter only casts one ballot. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What if you receive a 4-year no activity card and the address is correct?

Check the box marked "I am the person named above and I still live at the address listed above." Sign the card and return it to our office. You will be sent a new voter card, and this will show up as activity on your voter registration record. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What if you receive a 4-year no activity card and the address is incorrect?

Check the box marked "I am the person named above but I no longer live at the address listed." Fill in your new street address and sign the card.

If your new address is inside Clayton County, your voter registration record will be updated and you will receive a new voter card. This will show up as activity on your voter registration record.

If your new address is outside Clayton County, your Clayton County voter registration will be cancelled. This does not register you to vote in your new community. You will need to contact your local voter registration office to register if you have not yet done so. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What if a 4-year no activity card is returned to our office as undeliverable by the Postal Service?

Your voter registration record will be placed on inactive status. This is a preliminary step to cancellation of your record. Voters whose cards are returned to our office in this year's mailing will remain on inactive status for two general elections. Voters who are inactivated in this year's mailing and do not re-register will be cancelled after the next presidential election. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What if I get a card at my house for someone who no longer lives here?

Check the box marked "The person to whom this card is addressed does not live at this address" and sign the card. The person will be placed on inactive status. If you know the person or they are a family member, you may wish to contact the person and ask them to contact our office. We cannot cancel a voter's record without the voter's own signature, unless:
- We receive notice from another jurisdiction that the voter has registered there.
- We receive notice that the voter has died or been convicted of a felony.
- The voter has been inactive through 2 general elections.

Our office also, as required by law, has mailed letters to voters who have recently been cancelled after being inactive through two general elections. If you receive one of these letters for someone who is no longer at your address, you do not need to take any additional action. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What does it mean when a burn ban is issued in my county?

A burn ban means that conditions are drier than normal and the chances of a fire growing out of control are much higher. A burn ban is issued to prohibit outdoor fires to vegetation, rubbish, or yard waste when it would otherwise be permitted.

2. Who can request a burn ban?

In Clayton County a Fire Chief or Board of Supervisor, speaking on behalf of a majority of the Fire Chiefs in Clayton County, can request the State Fire Marshal issue a burn ban for the County. Burn bans are issued by county but nothing prevents a city or single fire district from issuing a burn ban for their service area. City or district fire bans are not a state issued burn ban, however.

3. Can a camp fire, fire pit or back yard fire place be used during a burn ban?

Yes. Be sure to check with local officials as some ordinances at camp grounds or cities may prohibit these whether a state issued burn ban is in place or not.

4. What precautions must I take to have a campfire while a burn ban is in place?

Campfires are permitted as long as they are properly contained, monitored and extinguished. However, some parks prohibit campfires so be sure to check with local officials.

5. What is the fine for violating a burn ban?

Persons who violate a burn ban may be subject to a simple misdemeanor citation that requires a court appearance. A magistrate could sentence the offender up to 30 days in jail or $100 in fines if found guilty.

6. How do I find out if my county is in a burn ban?

Visit the State Fire Marshal website, linked below. Along the right side tabs you will see a tab marked burn bans.

If you click on that tab a map will appear on the page. Counties that are under a burn ban will appear in red. Below the map is the date and time the ban was requested or lifted and the person requesting the ban.

State Fire Marshal Website

7. Why are burn bans important?

Burn bans are likely to be requested every spring and fall. This year the state has seen near unprecedented dry conditions.

Fall winds and dry vegetation allow fires to spread very rapidly. Many people underestimate the fire risk during these extended periods of dryness placing them in high risk of becoming injured by outdoor fires. Many outdoor grass and yard waste fires are a matter of wanting to burn rather than establishing a need to burn.

8. Are there any provisions to burn during a burn ban?

Local Fire Chiefs may choose to issue a permit to burn for a specific case where burning is needed.

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1. What if the new address as reported by the U.S. Postal Service is within Clayton County?

Your voter registration address will be updated to the address reported by the U.S. Postal Service. If the new address is correct and within Clayton County, no further action on your part is required. You may sign and return the card if you wish. You will also receive a new voter card within a few weeks. If all the information is correct, again no action on your part is needed.

If the postal address is incorrect and your correct address is within Clayton County, write down your correct address, sign the card, and return it to our office. Your voter registration record will be updated and you will receive a new voter card.

If the postal address is incorrect and you have moved outside the county, write down your correct address, sign the card, and return it to our office. Your Clayton County voter registration will be cancelled. This does not register you to vote in your new community. You will need to contact your local voter registration office to register if you have not yet done so. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What if the new address as reported by the U.S. Postal Service is outside Clayton County?

Your voter registration record will be placed on inactive status. This is a preliminary step to cancellation of your record. If your new address outside Clayton County is correct, you may sign and return the postage-paid card. We can then cancel your Clayton County voter registration. This does not register you to vote in your new community. You will need to contact your local voter registration office to register if you have not yet done so.

If your new address outside Clayton County is incorrect, and you have moved outside Clayton County, write down your correct address, sign the card, and return it to our office. Your Clayton County voter registration will be cancelled. This does not register you to vote in your new community. You will need to contact your local voter registration office to register if you have not yet done so.

If your new address outside Clayton County is incorrect, and you have not moved outside Clayton County, write down your correct address, sign the card, and return it to our office. Your Clayton County voter registration record will be returned to active status. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What do you do about Post Office Boxes and Mail Drops?

In order to register to vote, you must provide our office with a street address. This allows us to assign you to the proper precinct. Voters who receive their mail at a post office box or a commercial mail drop are asked to provide both a street address and a mailing address. (The only exception is the Domestic Violence Shelter.) Voters who are homeless must specify the location to which they most often return.

If the new address as reported by the U.S. Postal Service is a post office box or mail drop within Clayton County, this information will be added to your existing voter registration record, and your physical address will not be changed. If you have moved to a different physical address, make any needed corrections and return the signed card to our office. If you have not physically moved, and have simply chosen to receive your mail at a mail box, no further action on your part is needed.

If the new address as reported by the U.S. Postal Service is a post office box outside Clayton County, your voter registration record will be placed on inactive status. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What do you do about Post Office Boxes and Mail Drops?

You may indicate on the reply card that the person does not live at your address, sign the card, and return it to our office. If you know the person or they are a family member, you may wish to contact the person. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. What are the most common problems?

- An address change by one family member may have been reported by the U.S. Postal Service as a change for the whole family.
- Two people may have the same name and address. (John Doe Sr., John Doe Jr.)
- People who maintain a winter residence outside Iowa and have reported a long-term address change to the Postal Service often receive NCOA notices.
- Cards or other voter registration materials that are returned without signatures cannot be processed.

These problems can be fixed by returning a corrected, signed card to our office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What are the political parties in Iowa?

To qualify for official, full party status, a party must win more than 2% of the vote for President or governor in each general election. Iowa currently has two official political parties: Democratic and Republican. Parties that do not meet the 2% requirement may petition for a status called "political organization." Political organizations are listed on voter registration forms, but do not hold primary elections. Since January 1, 2008, voters have been able to register with two political organizations, the Green Party and the Libertarian Party. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Can a third party candidate run for office in Iowa?

Anyone who meets the legal requirements may run for office. Candidates who are not the nominees of the Democratic or Republican parties qualify for the ballot through a process called nomination by petition and may choose whether or not to list the name of a party on the ballot. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Can a candidate be the nominee of more than one party?

Some states allow candidates to appear on the ballot as the nominee of more than one party, a practice called "fusion." However, Iowa law does not allow fusion. A candidate can only be on one party's primary ballot, and anyone who won the nomination of a second party as a write-in would have to choose which nomination to accept. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Do political organizations have primaries?

No, but they may qualify candidates for the ballot through the nomination by petition process. They may have internal procedures, such as conventions, to choose their candidates, but those would be run by the party and not by our office. We only conduct primaries for the fully qualified parties. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

5. How can I find out about the candidates? Can I get information from your office?

The Auditor's Office provides contact information for campaigns, candidates, and parties. Before each election we post a list of candidates and ballot issues that includes addresses and (if available) phone numbers, e-mail addresses and websites so that you may contact the campaigns yourself.

We do not provide campaign literature or answer specific questions such as how a candidate stands on a given issue. Some states send "voter guide" books to voters before each election, but Iowa does not. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

6. How do I contact the political parties in Clayton County?

Visit the Political Parties in Clayton County page.

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1. Can I register with another party?

No, but it is possible that other parties may qualify for the ballot or that other organizations may complete the petition procedure in the future. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Can I register with more than one party?

No, if you check more than one box you will be registered as No Party until and unless you re-register or make a correction. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Do I have to choose a party in order to register and to vote?

No. If you do not wish to belong to a political party or organization, you may leave the party boxes blank when you register or check the box marked "No Party." However, only voters who register with a fully qualified party may vote in a partisan primary election. (June, even numbered years). For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

4. I thought I was registered with one party but my card says I'm registered with another one.

You may have voted in a primary election or attended a caucus and changed your party affiliation at that time. If you wish to make any changes or corrections, you can use the correction part of your voter card. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

5. How do I declare or change a party affiliation on my voter registration record?

Just check the box for the party or organization of your choice on the registration form. There are no other requirements. If you leave the space blank or mark "No Party," you will be registered with no party. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

6. Why can't I register as an Independent? Why does it say "NP" on my voter card?

The abbreviation "NP" stands for No Party, which means that you are registered without any party affiliation. The term "No Party" is specified by the Secretary of State and used consistently statewide. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

7. I registered as a Green years ago, why does my card says “NP”?

The Greens had full party status from 2000 to 2002, but lost party status after the 2002 election. If you wish to change your status back to Green, you need to re-register. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

8. Am I required to work or give money to the party?

No. You have no obligations when you register with a party. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

9. If I choose a party when I register, can I change later?

Yes, you just have to re-register. Any Iowa voter may re-register and change party affiliation at any time, including at the polls. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. Do I have to choose a party in order to register and to vote?

No. If you do not wish to belong to a political party or organization, you may leave the party boxes blank when you register or check the box marked "No Party." However, only voters who register with a fully qualified party may vote in a partisan primary election. (June, even numbered years). For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

2. If I choose a party, do I have to vote for all their candidates?

No. A voter's statement of party preference is in no way binding. Voters may choose whichever candidates they wish in secrecy without regard to party preference in the general election. A primary is an election that takes place within each official political party. No one is elected in a primary election. Instead, voters affiliated with political parties select their party's candidates for the general election. Only voters who register with a party may vote in a primary election, and only the official parties hold primaries.


For example, if you are registered to vote as a Republican, for example, in the primary election, your vote will help choose the Republican Party's nominees for various offices. Since you, as a registered Republican, are selecting your party's candidate to run against candidates from other parties in the general election, you will be given a ballot with only Republican candidates to choose from. You will not see the names of any Democratic or other candidates on your primary election ballot.


In the general election, which decides who will actually fill the offices, all voters get ballots listing all of the candidates. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Can I vote for a Republican for one office and a Democrat for another?

In a general election, you can. In a primary election, you cannot. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Can I write in a candidate of one party in the other party's primary?

Yes, but the party primaries are separate contests. If you write in the name of a candidate running in a primary, what you are saying is that you want that person to be your party's candidate. A write in vote on a Republican ballot does not count as a vote in a Democratic primary contest, and a write in vote on a Democratic ballot does not count as a vote in a Republican primary contest. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

5. Can a candidate be nominated as a write in?

A candidate must win 35% of the total primary vote in order to be nominated as a write in. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What is a Homestead Credit?

The Homestead Credit is a tax credit funded by the State of Iowa for qualifying homeowners, and is generally based on the first $4,850 of Net Taxable Value. In the case of a Disabled Veteran Tax Credit, the value of the Homestead Credit is increased to the entire amount of the Taxable Value of the property. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. How is the Homestead Credit calculated?

The Homestead Credit is calculated by dividing the homestead credit value by 1,000 and multiplying by the Consolidated Tax Levy Rate. That amount may then be reduced by the county to the same amount at which the State of Iowa has approved funding. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What is a real estate Military Exemption?

Veterans who served in active duty during certain periods of time and who were honorably discharged are eligible to receive a Military Exemption on their property taxes. Pursuant to Iowa law, the Military Exemption value is determined by the dates the veteran served in active duty. Values for most veterans are $1,852, or $3,704 in the case of a husband and wife who both qualify. The value for World War I veterans is $2,778. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. How is the Military Exemption calculated?

The Military Exemption value is subtracted from the Taxable Value of a property prior to the calculation of taxes. To know how much your tax bill was reduced by the Military Exemption, divide the value by 1,000 and multiply the remainder by the Consolidated Tax Levy Rate. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. How do I apply or find out if I qualify for the Homestead Credit or Military Exemption?

The assessor has forms that you need to complete, sign, and file for the Homestead Credit and/or Military Exemption. That office can also tell you the qualifications for each. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. Do railroads and utility companies pay real estate taxes?

Yes, except that utilities defined as gas & electric utilities pay excise taxes. Railroad and utility values are included in the tax base for the respective Levy Authorities, and both real estate and excise taxes are paid to those Levy Authorities. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Where do my taxes go?

Your taxes are apportioned by the county treasurer to Levy Authorities such as the school district, city or township, and county in which your real estate parcel is located. If your property is in a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Area, most of your taxes are probably apportioned to a TIF Authority, such as a city. You can see the distribution of your taxes on your tax bill. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What is Taxable Value?

Taxable Value is the value used to calculate taxes and on which the tax askings of the various Levy Authorities are based. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What is an “ag dwelling”, and why do I get a separate tax bill for it?

An ag dwelling is a residence that sits on land classified as agricultural, such as a house on a 40-acre tract of farmland. Iowa law requires the value of the house to be taxed as residential property, while the value of the farmland is taxed as agricultural property. For certain tax administrative purposes, many counties create a separate tax parcel for an ag dwelling. In the case of an ag dwelling within city limits, this allows the county to apply the regular (full) city tax rate to the ag dwelling and the city ag (lower) tax rate to the land. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. What offices at the county are involved in the assessment and taxation of real estate?

The assessor, county auditor, and county treasurer are part of the tax cycle in that, in general, each has various administrative responsibilities for a given assessment year. In addition, the county recorder records various real estate documents, including subdivision plats, mortgages, surveys, and conveyances such as deeds, etc. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. How can I change the address where my tax bill is mailed?

The procedure for changing the mailing addresses for tax bills will vary from county to county. Contact your county treasurer to determine what you need to do. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

7. How is Taxable Value calculated?

Taxable Value for most property is calculated by multiplying the Rollback Rate for the correct property class by the equalized 100% Actual Value. Taxable Value for gas & electric utility property is calculated by the Iowa Department of Revenue. One exception is agricultural land within an incorporated city. City ag land is subject to a different Tax Levy Rate limit than other Property classes within a city, and ag land parcels are assigned to a separate city ag Tax District. The result is that the various ag parcels within a city ag Tax District do not have to be geographically contiguous. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

8. What is a Tax District?

Generally, a Tax District is a geographically contiguous area defined by boundaries of schools, townships, and cities when overlaid with one another. As such, it is a contiguous area within which the Tax Levy Rates are the same for all parcels. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. Does the assessor set the value for all real estate property?

No. Property owned by railroads and utility companies is valued by the Iowa Department of Revenue and certified for taxation to the county auditor. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What does it mean that 100% Actual Value is “equalized”?

The Iowa Department of Revenue imposes equalization orders in odd-numbered years against each property class for each local assessor. Sometimes called “the assessor’s report card,” the equalization order is used to increase or decrease 100% Actual Values when those values are not sufficiently accurate. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. How does the Iowa Department of Revenue know when an assessor’s 100% Actual Values are not sufficiently accurate?

The Department receives a copy of the Declaration of Value required to be filed with the county recorder when real estate is sold. Actual sales values are then compared to the assessor’s 100% Actual Values. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What is Taxable Value?

Taxable Value is the value used to calculate taxes and on which the tax askings of the various Levy Authorities are based. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. What is the Rollback Rate?

The Rollback Rate is an annual statewide rate set annually for each property class by the Iowa Department of Revenue. In effect, the rate of growth in value for a given property class may be limited by the rate of growth in value of another property class. Somewhat similar to two people tied together in a three-legged race, neither property class can get too far ahead of the other one. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. How is Taxable Value calculated?

Taxable Value for most property is calculated by multiplying the Rollback Rate for the correct property class by the equalized 100% Actual Value. Taxable Value for gas & electric utility property is calculated by the Iowa Department of Revenue. One exception is agricultural land within an incorporated city. City ag land is subject to a different Tax Levy Rate limit than other Property classes within a city, and ag land parcels are assigned to a separate city ag Tax District. The result is that the various ag parcels within a city ag Tax District do not have to be geographically contiguous. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What is a Levy Authority?

A Levy Authority is a governmental entity with statutory authority to levy property taxes. These entities include counties, cities, school districts, townships, community colleges, local assessors, and others. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What is a legal description?

A legal description is a description of real estate that is used in legal documents such as abstracts, deeds, mortgages, etc. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What is an administrative real estate description?

An administrative real estate description is a description of real estate used by county offices for real estate assessment and taxation administrative purposes. Typically, it will be similar to a legal description, but may contain abbreviations or other summaries. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What is a property class?

Real estate parcels are annually assigned a property class by the assessor or the Iowa Department of Revenue. Property classes include Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Railroad, Utility, and Gas and Electric Utility. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. How do I register to vote?

You may register to vote by mail by completing a voter registration application and returning it by mail or in person to our office. You may also register to vote in person at the Auditor's Office during business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After you register to vote, you will receive a voter card by mail which lists your precinct, polling place, and legislative districts. You do not need this card in order to vote. If your card is misplaced, new cards are available at no charge. By law cards must be mailed; please allow up to two weeks for delivery. If you need proof of your voter registration sooner, you may request a certified copy of your registration in person at our office. You can also utilize Electronic Voter Registration.

2. How do I change my address or re-register?

If you move within Clayton County or would like to change any other registration information, you may change your registration by mail. Enter the changes on the reverse side of your voter card or complete a new voter registration application and mail it to the Auditor's Office. You may also change your registration in person at the Auditor's Office during business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you are already registered in Clayton County and have moved within the county, you may change your address when voting absentee or at the polls on Election Day. To change your address on Election Day, go to your new polling place and bring a photo ID (one with your old address is okay). You'll save time on Election Day if you update your registration ahead of time.

If you move from Clayton County to another county or state, you must re-register in your new county of residence. When you re-register, indicate on your application that you were previously registered in Clayton County, Iowa, so officials in your new community can notify us to remove your name from our rolls. For more information, please visit the Addresses for all County Auditors in Iowa page.

3. How can I register to vote by mail?

Applications are available at our office and online. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106. View the
Voter Registration Form (PDF).

4. How can I update my information? Can I do so on the phone or online?

No, Iowa law requires your signature. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. How can I get a mistake fixed on my voter card?

Your card includes an area for corrections. Make any corrections or changes you need to, sign the card, and send it back. Within two weeks, you should receive another new card with the corrected information. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. How can I change the party on my registration?

If you wish to make any changes or corrections, you can make those on your voter card and send it back. We'll then send you a new one within two weeks. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What do I need to bring with me to register to vote?

If you are registering in person, no documents are required. If you are registering by mail and do not have either an Iowa driver's license number or a Social Security number, some documentation is needed. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What do I need to know when I register?

You will need to know your name, residence address, and birth date. You are also required to provide your driver's license number (Iowa licenses only) or the last four digits of your Social Security number (if you don't have a driver's license or if your license is from another state). If you do not have either of these numbers, there are other identification options. You will be asked for your telephone number, e-mail address and party preference; however, these are not required. It also helps to know the last place you were registered to vote (if any) so we can notify voter registration officials there. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What if I have changed my name, must I register and vote under my new name?

To avoid delays at the polls, you should re-register when you change your name. If you do not, you may update your name at the polls on Election Day. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. When can I register to vote?

There is no waiting period to be eligible to register to vote. If you move, you may register to vote as soon as you move into your new home. On April 3, 2007, Governor Culver signed House File 653, which allows voters to register and vote on Election Day. This law took effect January 1, 2008. There is still a voter registration deadline of ten days before primary and general elections and eleven days before all other elections, but you can still register after the deadline using the Election Day Registration procedure. However, this procedure has more requirements than registering before the deadline. For more information, please visit the Iowa Secretary of State page.

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1. Where do I send my voter registration application after I fill it out?

If you are a resident of Clayton County, send it to our office:
Clayton County Auditor's Office
Attn: Elections
P.O. Box 416
Elkader, IA 52043-0416

If you are not a Clayton County resident, our office can tell you where to send your registration. Please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106. For the Addresses for all County Auditors in Iowa, please visit the Iowa Secretary of State page.

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1. Who can register to vote?

U.S. citizens who reside in Clayton County are eligible to register to vote in the county. You may register at age 17.5, but you must be 18 years old to vote. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Do I have to register before each election?

Only if you have moved to a new address or changed your name. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Will I remain registered even if I don't vote in every election?

You cannot be removed from the voter rolls simply for not voting. In order to cancel someone from our rolls entirely, we must receive official notice that the voter has moved, registered elsewhere, died, or been convicted of a felony. To remain actively registered, you must be able to receive mail at your address. If mail is returned to our office by the Postal Service, you are placed on an "inactive" status. Your registration cannot be completely cancelled until you been on inactive status through two general elections. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Who can register voters?

Any person may assist another in completion of a voter registration application. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. Can I register to vote if I have a Green Card?

No. You must be a United States citizen to register to vote. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. Can an ex-felon register and vote?

On July 4, 2005, Governor Vilsack restored voting rights to ex-felons who had completed their sentences through that date. Since that date, the Department of Corrections has sent the governor a monthly list of people who have discharged their sentences (including probation, parole, or supervised release). The Governor then must consider these individuals for a restoration of citizenship rights. If granted, a restoration of citizenship certificate will be issued to the offender’s last known address. For more information on Restoration of Rights, including application forms, please visit the Governor of Iowa site.

7. Who can obtain access to the registration list? What if I don't want my address released?

Our office is required by state law to allow voter lists to be released for political purposes. Use of the voter list for commercial purposes, such as debt collection or sales, is a serious misdemeanor (Code of Iowa, Section 48A.39). Anyone purchasing a voter list must fill out a form identifying themselves and their specific purpose (such as the name of a political organization or campaign). Iowa law does not allow voters to exclude themselves from such lists, and political organizations are exempt from most provisions of the national do-not-call law. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

8. Does registering to vote mean I'll get jury duty?

You may be called for jury duty even if you are not registered to vote, since jury lists are compiled from motor vehicle, driver's license, and utility records in addition to voter registration lists. For more information about jury duty contact the Clayton County Clerk of Court, 563-245-2204.

9. Can a change be made in my registration without my knowledge?

No, every time your information changes you should receive a new voter card. This includes records updated in our annual update of addresses from the Postal Service (NCOA). For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What is a restoration of citizenship rights?

It refers to a form of clemency whereby the Governor of Iowa restores an offender’s right to vote and hold public office that was forfeited by reason of a conviction of felony or aggravated misdemeanor. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Do I need to submit an application to be considered for a restoration of citizenship rights?

If you have completely discharged your sentence by July 4, 2005, including any accompanying term of probation, parole, or supervised release, you will be covered by the blanket restoration of citizenship rights, and there is no need for you to file an application with the Governor’s office. For offenders that will completely discharge their sentences after July 4, 2005, including any accompanying term of probation, parole, the Department of Corrections will forward their names on a monthly basis to the Governor who will give consideration without undue delay. Notwithstanding the executive order, offenders have a statutory right to make an application for a restoration of citizenship rights at any time following a conviction. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. If have already submitted an application to the Governor for restoration of citizenship rights, what do I do now? Will my application be processed?

If you have an application pending before the Governor, it will be process according to the procedures set forth in Chapter 914 of the Code of Iowa unless you request that it be withdrawn. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. If I discharged my sentence before July 4, 2005, how do I provide proof of restoration of citizenship rights?

Offenders who have discharged their sentences before July 4, 2005, will not receive a separate restoration of citizenship certificate after the executive order is signed. Instead, the executive order itself will serve as evidence of restoration of citizenship rights for such offenders. A copy of the executive order will be available by contacting the Governor and Lt. Governor’s office or by visiting The Governor's Website.

5. Does a restoration of citizenship restore my right to possess a firearm?

No, the executive order will not include any rights with respect to receipt, transportation, or possession of firearms as provided by federal law or Chapter 724 of the Code of Iowa. If you wish to restore your firearm rights, you will need to obtain and submit an application for firearm restoration to the Governor’s office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. Is a restoration of citizenship rights the same as a pardon?

No, the executive order, and all future restorations of citizenship rights, will not be considered a pardon or as a remission of guilt or forgiveness of the offense and will not operate as a bar to greater penalties for second offenses or a subsequent conviction as a habitual criminal. If you wish to seek a pardon, you will need to obtain and submit an application to the Governor’s office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

7. Does a restoration of citizenship rights affect my financial obligations arising from my conviction?

No, a restoration of citizenship rights will not relieve an offender of any unpaid restitution, fine, or other financial obligation resulting from a conviction. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

8. If I have my citizenship rights restored, do I need to re-register to vote?

Yes. Please contact your County Auditor or the Iowa Secretary of State’s office for voter registration forms. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

9. How do I get a duplicate restoration of citizenship rights certificate?

A duplicate certificate may be obtained by contacting the Governor’s office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

10. How long will it take to receive a restoration certificate after I complete my sentence?

The Department of Corrections will forward a record each month of offenders who are eligible to receive consideration from the Governor for a restoration of citizenship rights. The Governor will then make a decision and notification will be mailed to the offender’s last known address. If you do not receive notification within two months after completion of your sentence, please contact the Governor’s office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What is a restoration of citizenship rights?

It refers to a form of clemency whereby the Governor of Iowa restores an offender’s right to vote and hold public office that was forfeited by reason of a conviction of felony or aggravated misdemeanor. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What if my conviction was for a federal crime?

If you have been convicted of a federal felony, you are not eligible to vote in Iowa unless you have had your citizenship rights restored. Although the Governor of Iowa cannot grant a full pardon for a federal crime, the Governor can restore your right to vote and hold public office within Iowa. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. What if I was convicted in another state?

If you have been convicted of a felony in another state, you are not eligible to vote in Iowa unless you have had your citizenship rights restored. Although the Governor of Iowa cannot grant a full pardon for a crime committed in another state, the Governor can restore your right to vote and hold public office within Iowa. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What is the process for seeking to have my citizenship rights restored?

On July 4, 2005, Governor Vilsack issued Executive Order Number 42, which granted a blanket restoration of citizenship rights for all offenders that completely discharged their sentences, including any accompanying term of probation, parole, or supervised release. After July 4, 2005, the Department of Corrections will forward to the Governor each month a record of offenders that have discharged their sentences, including any accompanying term of probation, parole, or supervised release. The Governor will consider without undue delay these individuals for a restoration of citizenship rights. If granted, a restoration of citizenship certificate will be issued to the offender’s last known address. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. What happens if an individual re-offends?

If an offender is convicted of a felony or aggravated misdemeanor after having their citizenship rights restored, they again lose the right to vote and hold public office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. What if I still have questions about restoration of citizenship rights?

Please call the Governor's office at 515-281-3502, or visit The Governor's Website.

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1. Who is ineligible to vote because of a prior conviction?

Under Iowa law, anyone convicted of a felony loses the right to vote and hold public office. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. How do I return an absentee ballot?

You can return your ballot by mail or in person. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by the day before the election and received prior to the official canvass in order to be counted. Ballots may also be returned in person to the Auditor's Office prior to the close of the polls on Election Day. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Can I return my ballot by fax?

No. The actual ballot must be returned. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Does the ballot have to be returned by mail?

Your ballot may be returned in person or by mail. Return postage is paid. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Can I give my voted absentee ballot to someone else to return for me?

Yes. The only people who cannot return your ballot at your request are candidates. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

5. When must I return the voted ballot?

Absentee ballots must be received no later than the close of polls (9:00 p.m. for partisan general and primary elections, and 8 p.m. for all other elections) on Election Day. Your voted absentee ballot must be returned to the Auditor's Office, not your polling place. If you return your voted ballot by mail, your ballot must be postmarked by the day before the election. It will be counted if it arrives by noon on the Monday after the election, or before the canvass (official certification of results). The canvass is usually six days after the election, but may be held sooner. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

6. If I request an absentee ballot, can I change my mind and vote at my regular polling place?

If you still have your absentee ballot on Election Day and want to vote at the polls instead, take the absentee ballot with you to the polling place and give it to the poll workers. You will then be allowed to vote a regular ballot at the polling place.

If you requested an absentee ballot but lost it or never received it, or if you do not bring your unvoted absentee ballot with you to the polls, you will be required to sign an oath stating this fact. You may then vote a provisional ballot. This allows the provisional ballot board to make sure your absentee ballot was not received.

For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

7. How are absentee ballots counted?

All absentee ballots remain sealed until Election Day. On Election Day, a bipartisan Absentee Ballot Board of at least three members opens the ballots and counts them. The results are not announced until the polls are closed. If additional absentee ballots with timely postmarks arrive after Election Day, members of the absentee board meet again to count them. For more information, please call the Auditor’s Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. Why does it take so long to clear gravel roads?

Restoring access on gravel roads is a slow process since the graders are not built for speed and a typical route covers seventy to eighty miles. Sometimes after a severe storm, it’s not possible to cover the entire area until the second or third day. Home owners are encouraged to plan accordingly for the winter season.

2. Why do they keep plowing my driveway shut?

Unfortunately, this is due to the continuous operation of the plow. It’s necessary for the operator to push without stopping in order to complete the route in a timely manner. If we pause to clear each driveway, both momentum and time are lost.

3. The plow knocked down my mailbox. Will the County replace it?

Generally, the County will only replace mailboxes where it can be determined that the equipment made physical contact with the mailbox. During wet snows, the plowing operations will often cast snow across the shoulder, which can break the weaker box supports. The County doesn’t compensate for that loss.

4. I’ve seen plow trucks on the road that sometimes aren’t spreading salt. Why don’t they since they’re there anyway?

Salt doesn’t melt the ice, but does lower the freezing temperature of water. At critical temperatures, applying salt to roads packed with snow or ice may create worse problems by causing the snow or ice to “glaze” or form a slick shiny surface. Also, during windy storms, snow will often blow off a bare road, whereas salt will sometimes cause the snow to begin to stick.

5. Is there anything that I can do to help with snow and ice operations?

Yes. Hay bales that are stored along the north or west right-of-way will cause drifting across the roadway. If the bales were set back 300 feet, they would act as a snow fence and actually help protect the road.

During severe storms, it’s helpful if folks are patient and wait for the plow - abandoned vehicles become a big problem. Our operators try to go around those vehicles. If that’s not possible, the vehicle will be moved to allow our equipment to get through. The County will not be liable for damage unless negligence can be established.

6. How do we contact your Department?

If you see something that is a concern or have questions, please contact the County Engineer's Office. Our regular hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Find our complete contact information in the Staff Directory.

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1. What is a TIF Area?

A tax increment financing area (TIF Area) is usually created by a city or county for use as an economic development tool. A community college can also create a TIF Area for a new jobs training program. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. What is the difference between a TIF Area and a TIF Tax District?

TIF Area is defined in the ordinance adopted by the city or county. A TIF Area may need to be broken into multiple TIF Tax Districts because of different Consolidated Tax Levy Rates or due to an amendment to the TIF Area, such as happens in an annexation. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. How is a TIF Area created?

A city or county must adopt an urban renewal plan and then an ordinance for the division of TIF taxes. The process prescribes public notice and public hearing requirements. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. What happens to the “base” taxes and the “increment” taxes?

Taxes levied on the base value are distributed by the county treasurer to the Levy Authorities in the same manner as regular (non-TIF) Tax Districts. Taxes levied on the increment value are paid to the TIF Authority. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

5. Who is the “TIF Authority”?

The TIF Authority is the governmental body that created the TIF Area. Usually a city, it could also be a county, a community college, or a rural improvement zone. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. How much of my taxes go to the city (or county) for debt for the TIF Area?

The amount of increment taxes depends on the relative proportion of base value to increment value in the TIF Area, and also on whether or not the TIF Authority requests all of the available TIF increment taxes in a given year. You can see the distribution of your taxes on your tax bill. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

7. Do all of the taxes on the increment value go to pay TIF debt?

No. Debt levies for counties, schools, and cities are applied against both base and increment value, as are physical plant and equipment levies for school districts. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

8. Are my taxes higher because my property is in a TIF Area?

To answer this question, it is useful to assume a situation in which two real estate parcels are exactly the same in the following respects: each has the same valuation, Property Class, tax credits & exemptions, and Consolidated Tax Levy Rate. The only difference between the two is that one is in a TIF Area and the other is not. The result is that both properties will pay exactly the same amount of taxes. The difference in a TIF Area is not how much you pay in taxes, but who receives the taxes. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

9. What qualifies to be paid from taxes on the increment value?

What qualifies to be paid from taxes on the increment value?
TIF tax revenues are used to repay debt incurred for qualifying urban renewal projects within a TIF Area. Projects are for the purposes and activities listed in Code of Iowa Sections 403.6 or 403.12 and should also be included in city’s urban renewal plan. TIF debt for an urban renewal project can take the form of rebate agreements, internal loans, general obligation bonds, or TIF revenue bonds. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

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1. What does "Residence Address" mean?

Your residence is where your home or living quarters is located, and, to which, whenever you are absent, you intend to return - except if you are away from Iowa because of federal or state government employment, including military service. Leaving for temporary purposes, such as school attendance, does not result in a change of residence for voting purposes, unless you register there. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

2. Why is the residence address so important?

It is important because your polling place and elected representatives are determined by your residence address. In order for you to receive the correct ballot on Election Day, your registration must have your residence address. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

3. Can I put down my post office box as my address?

No, the address must be the complete street address of your residence. The only exception is the Domestic Violence shelter. If you have a post office or mail drop box, put this on your registration in addition to your street address. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

4. Can I choose which address to use for registering?

You must register where you live. If you live at different places at different times of the year, you can register at only one address. If you are a student living at school, you must decide whether to register at your parent's home address or at your school address (but not both!)

Persons who go south for the winter must decide whether to register in Iowa or in the other state.

You cannot register at a business address or at a property that you own but do not live in. You can only register at a former address if you are in the military or living outside the country.

For more information on voting for college students, please visit the Iowa Secretary of State page.

5. How do I become an Iowa resident?

As far as voter registration is concerned, if you live in Iowa and intend for this to be your legal residence, you are an Iowa resident. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

6. I'm serving in the military. What is my voting residence?

The place where you resided when you first entered the service is your voting residence, unless you later establish a voting residence elsewhere. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

7. I'm a U.S. citizen living outside the country. Can I still vote?

Yes. You may continue to vote using the last permanent address you used before leaving the country. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.

8. Can a homeless person register and vote?

Yes. If you are staying at the Shelter House, you may use that address. If you are on the street, you may use a street corner or location to which you frequently return. However, you must specify some address or location so that we can place you in a precinct. For more information, please call the Auditor's Office at 563-245-1106.