Election Day is here

MOUNT AYR, Iowa — After months of being inundated with commercials from candidates of all stripes, Election Day is upon the voters of Ringgold County, throughout the state and across the nation.

Here in Ringgold County the polls open at 7 a.m., Tuesday, November 3 and will remain open until 8 p.m. for voters from across the county to cast their votes in the mid-term election.

There are several positions across the state that are up for election on Tuesday (candidates are listed as how they appear on the ballot).

There are two federal offices up for grabs.

The U.S, Senate race is a three-way race between Josh Turek (Dem), Ashley Hinson (Rep) and Thomas Laehn (Lib).

U.S. Representative (District 3) is between Sarah Trone Garriott (Dem) and incumbent Zach Nunn (Rep)

There are several statewide races at state.

The Governor/Lieutenant Governor race is Rob Sand/Dae Muhlbauer (Dem) against Zach Lahn/Derek Wulf (Rep).

Secretary of State is Ryan Peterman (Dem) versus incumbent Paul D. Pate (Rep)

Auditor of State race is Taylor Wettach (Dem) against Chris Coumoyer (Rep)

State Treasurer is John Norwood (Dem) against incumbent Roby Smith (Rep)

Secretary of Agriculture is Chris Jones (Dem) against incumbent Mike Naig (Rep)

Attorney General is Nate Willems (Dem) against incumbent Brenna Bird (Rep)

State Senator (District 9) is James Uhlenkamp (Dem) versus Steve Baier (Rep)

In State Representative District 17 only Devon Wood (Rep) is the only person on the ballot.

All of the Ringgold County partisan races the candidates are unopposed: Board of Supervisors – Randy Taylor (Rep), County Treasurer – Debra A. Cannon (rep), County Recorder – Kisha Martin (Rep) and County Attorney – Michael Wells (Rep).

There are also several non-partisan contests at stake, including several locally.

For the Ringgold County Hospital Board of Trustees voters may vote for no more than four: Dane Johnson, Steve Roe, Darla Sobotka, Norman Wolfe, Kathleen Schuster and Bruce Ricker.

To fill a Hospital Board of Trustee vacancy there is only one name on the ballot – Clinton L. Spurrier.

For Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner voters may vote for no more than two. The names on the ballot are Vickie Jeanes and Joyce Frost.

For Agriculture Extension Council voters may vote for no more than four: Jenifer Breneman, Adam M. Triggs, Joshua L. Waske and Logan Stackhouse are the names listed.

For Agriculture Extension Council to fill a vacancy the only name listed is Neva Nachtrieb.

There is also a Judicial Ballot whether to retain the current judges listed.

There is one Constitutional Amendment for voters to decide upon.

Summary: Provides that any bill to increase the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature for passage. Further, the two-thirds majority vote requirement applies to the passage of a bill to establish a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state. The requirement excludes taxes imposed at the option of a local government. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment.

Voting locations are as follows by precinct (listed alphabetically):

* Athens – Kellerton City Hall at 108 S. Decatur St, Kellerton

* Clinton – Redding Frontier Hall at 402 Central St., Redding

* Mount Ayr 1 – American Legion Building at 1302 S. Cleveland St., Mount Ayr

* Mount Ayr 2 – First Christian Church at 201 W. Monroe St., Mount Ayr

* Tingley – Tingley Community Building at 111 Main St., Tingley

* Union – Ellston Community Building at 209 W. Main St., Ellston

Washington – Diagonal Community Building at 103 Broadway St., Diagonal

Make sure to bring a valid and approved form of identification.