It's Time to Vote! Five Voter Events Across Iowa Take Place Week of Oct. 15

AARP Iowa, Latino Political Network (LPN) and county auditors are partnering to inform voters ahead of mid-term election with 5 statewide programs -- Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Mason City and Shenandoah -- during the week of Oct. 15.

AARP Iowa and the Latino Political Network (LPN) are working on a non-partisan effort to inform Iowa’s voters 50+ and Latino population on changes to the state’s voter laws, partnering with a bi-partisan group of county auditors from across the state.  This “It’s Time to Vote” voter education initiative coincides with Iowa’s early voting window beginning on Oct. 8, ahead of the Nov. 6 mid-term election.

The groups discussed the partnership this morning on a conference call and announced five voter education events taking place the week of Oct. 15. The locations include Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Mason City and Shenandoah.

“Iowa has new voting laws and it’s critically important that everyone understand the process so they can easily participate in the upcoming mid-term election,” said AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson. “We are excited to partner with LPN and county auditors to educate Iowans across the state on how to exercise their right to vote. We have a shared goal of increasing voter turnout among all Iowans.”

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"It's time to vote and the LPN is excited to partner with AARP and county auditors to educate and empower voters to make their voices heard this year," said Rob Barron, LPN co-founder.  "This campaign is historic for Iowa because it features television, radio, and social media efforts in Spanish to engage and reassure voters about the process statewide."

At upcoming programs, county auditors will provide an overview of how to vote in Iowa, including what has changed and not changed under the new laws, and information on what voters need to bring with them to their polling place.

“For those Iowans taking advantage of early voting, which began this week, they should make sure they take time to fill out the proper information on absentee ballot requests,” said Page County Auditor Melissa Wellhausen.  “If you are unsure what needs to be filled out, don’t hesitate to call or visit your local county auditor. We are here to help with early voting or answer any other voting questions you have.”

“Besides taking advantage of early voting, we hope Iowans will take the time to ensure they have updated and accurate voter registration information prior to the October 27 pre-registration deadline, especially if you have moved,” said Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald.  “It will make the voting process on election day easier for you and our local election officials.”

All voter education events are free and open to the public. Registration is required by calling 1-877-926-8300 or online through the links below. The dates and locations include:

Mason City – Tuesday, October 16
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Mason City Public Library, 225 2nd St. SE
https://aarp.cvent.com/MasonCityVotes2018

Marion (Cedar Rapids area) – Tuesday, October 16
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Marion Public Library, 1095 6th Ave.
https://aarp.cvent.com/CRvote2018

West Des Moines – Wednesday, October 17
10 – 11:00 a.m.
West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
https://aarp.cvent.com/DSMvote2018

Shenandoah – Wednesday, October 17
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Shenandoah Historical Museum, Waubonsie Room, 100 Maple Street
https://aarp.cvent.com/ShenandoahVotes2018

Bettendorf – Thursday, October 18
2 – 3 p.m.
Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Dr., Bettendorf
https://aarp.cvent.com/BettendorfVotes2018

More information and resources can be found at www.lpniowa.com/vote/.

About Latino Political Network

The LPN is a non-partisan organization founded in 2015 that is focused on educating and empowering the next generation of Latino elected officials in Iowa.  Although Iowa is home to more than 185,000 Latino Americans, there are fewer than 25 Latino elected officials in Iowa out of more than 7,500 elected offices. The major gap that needed to be filled was a concerted effort to train and empower new leaders, which LPN has filled through free, statewide trainings.

About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/IA.