Panthers cast first votes through early voting in Maucker Union

Students can participate in early voting in the midterm elections from Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 21 in Maucker Union.

The chairperson for satellite voting in Maucker Union, who asked to be identified as Pat, said, “There are people who cannot come on Election Day, so this just gives them another opportunity to get their vote registered.” 

The electronic voting booths are set up in the coffeehouse level of Maucker Union near the Essentials convenience store. 

Any voter registered in Black Hawk County is able to participate in early voting. In addition, people can register to vote for the first time at the polls or update their voting information to reflect their Black Hawk County address.

While students can register to vote with their Cedar Falls address, Pat said that they should be sure to note that some candidates on the ballot will be specific to Black Hawk County and may differ from their hometown officials.

The deadline for absentee ballot requests is also approaching. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the County Auditor’s Office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Absentee ballot requests may be mailed to the County Auditor’s Office or delivered in person. 

The absentee ballots themselves must be received by the County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. They also may be mailed or delivered in person.

The 2022 midterm elections include the race for Iowa governor as Democrat Deidre DeJear and Libertarian Rick Stewart run against Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds. 

Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is also up for re-election, while Democrat Mike Franken attempts to take the seat.

For the U.S. House of Representatives in District 2, Republican incumbent Ashley Hinsen is facing off against Democrat Liz Mathis.

A variety of other state and county positions are also on the ballot, including retention elections for Iowa Supreme Court Justices.

The ballot also features a proposed amendment to Iowa’s state constitution. The amendment would add “the right of the people of Iowa to keep and bear arms,” giving further protection to the right to bear arms beyond the second amendment of the Constitution of the U.S.

The amendment must be approved by a majority of voters in the 2022 midterm elections in order to be added to the state constitution.

“Just come vote,” Pat said. “We want people to vote, and we want them to get comfortable with that. We’d love to have them.”

People can register to vote or update their information online at sos.iowa.gov.

More information on voting at UNI can be found at panthersvote.uni.edu.

For more satellite voting sites and Black Hawk County election information, visit blackhawkcountyelections.iowa.gov.