Tuesday, November 7, 2023, was Election Day in Iowa. On this day, voting began in the morning and went until 8:00 pm, when at this time, all ballots were returned to be counted in the election.
Registration Requirements:
Voting isn’t difficult and only has a few requirements for eligibility.
- Voter must be 18 years old or older
- Must be a registered U.S. citizen
- Iowa resident
ID Requirements:
Voters must also bring a verification of their ID on Election Day before casting their ballot. Examples can include:
- Drivers license
- U.S. passport
- U.S. military or veteran ID
- Student ID (issued by high school or college)
- Work ID (issued by employer)
Election Day is when Iowans vote for people for city council and school board. By electing certain officials to these boards, it can cause a major impact on the city and schools within that city. This year, Des Moines had 13 candidates in the total race for the Des Moines City Council. Northwest Des Moines is represented by both Ward 1 and Ward 2, while Southwest Des Moines is represented by Ward 3 and Ward 4. Des Moines City Council had four vacant seats in total this year, one in Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 4, and one in the council at large. And the most highly anticipated ballot, Des Moines residents were able to vote for a new city mayor, Connie Boesen, for the first time in almost 20 years. With the Election Day results, Des Moines can predict to see new improvements and changes throughout the city such as affordable housing and parks and recreation improvements based on claims candidates made when campaigning.
Speaking of upcoming changes, ADM School District petitioned for a $58 million bond for a new high school set to open in fall 2027. The bond was approved with 80% of voters casting a “yes” vote which would provide not just a new high school, but also a new preschool center, new outdoor athletic facilities, and renovations toward the current middle school/high school. The high school, set to be built along Highway 169, south of Adel, will include new baseball and softball stadiums to accommodate the ever-growing population of Adel Desoto Minburn School District. Greg Defoe in a press conference with the ADM Black and Redgister stated, “One of the things that’s really pretty beautiful about the process is, we deem this inadequate for our current high school standards now, but when we move 5th and 6th grade kids over to this building (ADM High School) it will be a tremendous space for students that age.”
If you were not able to vote in the 2023 election, it is still important to keep informed about what is happening around you. The school board elections fall on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every odd year. The next election will take place in 2025, so if eligible, make sure to go vote. Every vote counts and is a way to express your opinion and create the community you want to be a part of.
