Live Election Day updates in Linn and Johnson counties

With two hours before the polls close at 8 p.m., the Linn County Auditor’s Office reported 24.3 percent turnout — 39,227 of 161,401 registered voters.

The Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported 12.3 percent turnout — 11,139 of 90,254 registered voters

3 p.m.

The Linn County Auditor’s Office reported 17.3 percent turnout — 27,928 of 161,401 registered voters — so far today.

The Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported 7.7 percent turnout — 6,964 of 90,254 registered voters. At the same time in 2019, there was 5.4 percent turnout.

The Linn County Election Services Twitter account reminded voters, “If you still have an absentee ballot, you can still deliver your ballot to our drop box or our office at the Public Service Center, 935 Second Street SW in Cedar Rapids. The ballot MUST be in our office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.”

12:30 p.m., Harris Building in Cedar Rapids

Outside of her polling place at the Linn County Harris Building on Sixth Street SE, Molly Monk, 27, said she loves to vote by mail. But here she was, casting her ballot in-person on Election Day.

After Iowa’s 2021 voter law changes, Monk said she would most likely vote in-person early or on Election Day from now on.

A Republican-backed bill Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law in March altered Iowa's elections, shortening the window for early voting, restricting absentee voting and threatened county auditors with fines and jail time if they break the new requirements.

“I come from a military family,” Monk said. “Absentee ballots are great, but with everything that happened in 2020, watching how the postal office was slow getting ballots turned in, just wondering whether or not I would make it on time if I got an absentee ballot, I am doing in-person Election Day voting, which is not my norm and it's probably not necessary, but here we are.”

12 p.m., Lemme Elementary School in Iowa City

A steady flow of voters entered and left Lemme Elementary School, 3000 E. Washington St.

Former teacher Stephanie Dotzel said she never misses an election. This year, it was the school issues that brought her out.

The change in election laws didn’t impact Dotzel but she said she’s concerned about how it might impact others who aren’t able to vote in person.

Whitney Maxwell tries to vote regularly. She wanted to vote this year because she appreciated Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teague is one of three candidates running for two at-large seats on the Iowa City Council.

Maxwell added that she thinks Teague is a “great leader” who brought the community together during the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement.

Voter Rick Spear said it is important now “more than ever” to vote and participate in elections. Like Maxwell, Spear said he appreciated Teague’s leadership during the pandemic, “especially with the lack of leadership at the state level.”

Spear voted in person this year but said he appreciated the variety of voting options. During last year’s election, he used drive-through voting at the Johnson County Auditor’s Office.

11:30 a.m., Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids

A steady stream of cars entered and exited the parking lot outside the Lovely Lane United Methodist Church on 42nd Street NE as voters cast ballots Tuesday morning.

After voting in Cedar Rapids’ municipal elections, Mike Antonelli, 75, said he always votes on Election Day because “it's one of our duties that we can do.”

“Just want to make sure everybody does their part,” Antonelli said. “Doesn't matter who you vote for as long as you vote.”

Casting her ballot at the same polling place, Katherine Bailey, 67, said had it not been for Iowa’s voter law changes, she would have voted an absentee ballot.

“To know that absolutely today is the cutoff for those absentee ballots, that's not right,” Bailey said. “I think that Iowa is moving more toward suppressing the vote.”

Bailey said people without a driver’s license or photo ID are entitled to vote, and she feared such laws passed by GOP lawmakers around the country after the 2020 election would limit people’s access to the polls.

“I don't like the way the country is going with shorter mail-in times,” Bailey said. “And it seems to me they're making it harder and harder for people to vote.”

11 a.m.

As of this time, the Linn County Auditor’s Office reported 11.07 percent turnout — 17,873 of 161,401 registered voters.

The Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported 3.5 percent turnout at this time — 3,169 of 90,254 registered voters.

While downtown was busy with students walking around, the polling places were quiet. The Robert A. Lee Recreation Center had four voters and Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center had 20 voters cast their ballots as of this time.

9 a.m.

The Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported 1.4 percent turnout — 1,274 of 90,254 registered voters.

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