Bad weather won’t stop Linn County casino election

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Auditor Joel Miller says regardless of the weather Tuesday, polling places for the casino vote will remain open.

Miller said that includes locations, such as schools and churches, that might be closed for normal business because of the weather.

Miller also spent part of Monday finding replacements as some people called to say they would not be able to beat the snow to work the polls today.

Any kind of weather concern tends to affect voter turnout. But with expected temperatures in the 30s Tuesday, the salt that road crews put down should work quickly to melt the snow.

But that's not enough to ease the fears of people passionate about this casino vote.

Some 20,504 Linn County voters have requested absentee ballots. And Monday, employees in the auditor's office worked to get those votes stamped, opened and counted.

But dozens more lined up to cast a ballot in person Monday.

“I'm afraid tomorrow I won't get out,” said early voter Donald Carter.

There was a consistent line at the auditor's office Monday from morning into the afternoon. But once voters got to the front of the line, there was just one question to answer on the ballot, do they want a casino in Linn County or not.

“The ballot is simple. I mean, I don't see how you could mess that up, even me,” said Carter.

But just getting to the polls could prove a challenging task for some Tuesday. And that's why both the “Vote Yes” and “Just Say No” groups have been encouraging people to vote early.

“We were headed to probably record turnout before the weather. I don't know what we'll have tomorrow,” Miller said Monday. “It depends on what we get tonight and whether the streets get cleaned and whether people can get to the polls”

One voter said he offered to pick up friends who don't have transportation to get them to the polls, but only if their vote will help his cause.

Some voters said they walked to the county auditor's office to vote. Which is why the Miller is asking everyone to get out early and shovel the sidewalks, especially if they live near a precinct.