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Kurt Allemeier The Quad-City Times
The “I voted” stickers were ready, along with the electronic pollbooks, as satellite voting began Monday in Scott County and across Iowa.
Workers from the Scott County Auditor’s Office delivered voting equipment and ballots to four locations — United Neighbors Inc., Ridgecrest Village and the LeClaire and Eldridge libraries — before satellite voting began at noon. Scott County Democrats petitioned for the United Neighbors location, while Scott County Republicans petitioned for the Ridgecrest and LeClaire sites for the one-day voting opportunities.
The “I voted” stickers were ready, along with the electronic pollbooks, as satellite voting began Monday in Scott County and across Iowa.
Workers from the Scott County Auditor’s Office delivered voting equipment and ballots to four locations — United Neighbors Inc., Ridgecrest Village and the LeClaire and Eldridge libraries — before satellite voting began at noon. Scott County Democrats petitioned for the United Neighbors location, while Scott County Republicans petitioned for the Ridgecrest and LeClaire sites for the one-day voting opportunities.
Midterm Satellite Voting begins in Scott County
“We’ll see what happens with satellites, but with absentee ballots, those numbers have increased.”
Sue Frembgen, chairwoman of the Scott County Democrats, could not be reached for comment.
When the satellite voting site is closed, ballots and the equipment are placed in a locked box in a locked room unavailable to the general public as they wait to be counted.
The auditor’s office reports that 12,797 absentee ballots have been requested this year in Scott County, with 6,290 returned. In 2006, a total of 2,973 ballots were cast at satellite polling centers, compared with 9,754 absentee ballots cast by mail.
Sue Frembgen, chairwoman of the Scott County Democrats, could not be reached for comment.
When the satellite voting site is closed, ballots and the equipment are placed in a locked box in a locked room unavailable to the general public as they wait to be counted.
The auditor’s office reports that 12,797 absentee ballots have been requested this year in Scott County, with 6,290 returned. In 2006, a total of 2,973 ballots were cast at satellite polling centers, compared with 9,754 absentee ballots cast by mail.
Today, satellite voting moves to the Bettendorf Public Library, Davenport Public Library’s Fairmount Street and the Scott County Library in Eldridge. A fourth site, the Davenport Public Library’s Eastern Avenue location, opens Wednesday. The four voting locations will be open during library hours though Oct. 30.
Voters also can cast their ballots at the Scott County Auditor’s Office at the Scott County Administrative Center, 600 W. 4th St., Davenport, where voting has been open since Sept. 23, when absentee ballots were available.
“We know both parties are doing a good job of getting out the early vote,” Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz said. “I am hopeful people take advantage of those four sites that are open.”
Scott County Republicans did their homework and saw five sites that might serve as good locations for a petitioned satellite voting center before settling on the Ridgecrest and LeClaire sites, chairwoman Judy Davidson said.
“We hope that people utilize them,” she said of the petitioned sites and the regular satellite sites. “That is why we had the rally Thursday, to encourage them to vote early.
Voters also can cast their ballots at the Scott County Auditor’s Office at the Scott County Administrative Center, 600 W. 4th St., Davenport, where voting has been open since Sept. 23, when absentee ballots were available.
“We know both parties are doing a good job of getting out the early vote,” Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz said. “I am hopeful people take advantage of those four sites that are open.”
Scott County Republicans did their homework and saw five sites that might serve as good locations for a petitioned satellite voting center before settling on the Ridgecrest and LeClaire sites, chairwoman Judy Davidson said.
“We hope that people utilize them,” she said of the petitioned sites and the regular satellite sites. “That is why we had the rally Thursday, to encourage them to vote early.
Satellite voting in 2008 surpassed mail voting. Registered voters in Scott County cast 19,634 ballots at satellite locations, while the auditor’s office received 16,792 ballots by mail for the presidential election. More than 40 percent of the ballots cast in the 2008 general election were cast before Election Day, Moritz said.
Statewide, absentee ballot requests have surpassed previous mid-term elections, with 249,513 ballots requested, according to the Iowa Secretary of State. In the 2006 general election, 242,385 ballots were requested, followed by 242,357 in 2002. Of those ballots requested, 119,430 have been returned.
Statewide, absentee ballot requests have surpassed previous mid-term elections, with 249,513 ballots requested, according to the Iowa Secretary of State. In the 2006 general election, 242,385 ballots were requested, followed by 242,357 in 2002. Of those ballots requested, 119,430 have been returned.
