Following reports of ballots running out at a voting precinct in Iowa Falls on Election Day, Hardin County Auditor Jolene Pieters confirmed that election officials were prepared for the possibility and had procedures in place to ensure every voter could cast a ballot.
In a statement emailed to RadioOnTheGo News, Pieters explained that Precinct 2 in Iowa Falls did indeed run out of printed paper ballots. However, she clarified that voters were able to continue voting using the ADA-compliant voting machines available at the site.
Pieters says the machines use a touchpad to vote and produce a regulation paper ballot that is counted just like a traditional paper ballot in the tabulators. The only difference is the voters use a touchpad to make their choices instead of a pen. Voters can also make a write-in choice on these machines. It allows them to review their choices before printing. Once those ballots are printed, they are run through the tabulator and counted just like a traditional ballot.
Pieters emphasized that no “mobile voting application” was used, addressing some confusion that had circulated about how voters were casting ballots after supplies ran low.
As a reminder, Iowa law allows any voter who is in line or on a polling site property at 8:00 p.m., the official poll closing time, to vote. Polls remain open until all voters in line have finished casting their ballots.
According to Pieters, lines at the Iowa Falls precinct were not as long as those seen during the general election last year.
