Dallas County polling site mix-ups frustrate West Des Moines officials
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Confusion over Dallas County polling locations did not help with the low voter turnout for a special West Des Moines City Council election last month, city officials say.
Why it matters: Running the special election cost the city an estimated $30,000–$40,000, according to City Clerk Ryan Jacobson, and a runoff election on March 17 is expected to have a similar price tag.
Catch up quick: A special election was held in February to fill a seat vacated by Renee Hardman, now a state senator.
- 3,622 votes were cast, and no one reached more than 50% of the vote, prompting a runoff.
- In comparison, last November's local races drew in more than double the voter turnout in Polk and Dallas counties.
State of play: WDM Mayor Russ Trimble and council members expressed frustration over the Dallas County polling locations and a lack of communication over them during a recent public meeting.
Zoom in: For the special election, Dallas County had three voting centers, instead of the typical precincts, as Polk County had.
- Instead of going to one of the centers, some residents showed up at the wrong locations.
- "It was a mess, and the turnout in Dallas County — it showed," said council member Greg Hudson.
What they're saying: Dallas County Auditor Todd Halbur tells Axios that the polling sites were listed on the county's website and social media pages 20 days before the election.
- If residents tried to find their polling location on the Iowa Secretary of State's website, multiple disclaimers warned them to consult their local office instead for special elections, he says.
- He also said hosting only three polling sites saves the city money — a concern for officials as they consider eliminating runoff elections.
- "There's more than ample information," Halbur said. "I thought it went successfully for 600 voters."
What's next: Dallas County will hold three polling centers again for the runoff, though one site has changed since the special election.
- "That's opposite of what an Auditor is supposed to do and opposite of what we want when it comes to citizen engagement and involvement in the process," he tells Axios.
Go deeper: Here are the runoff election locations for Polk, Dallas and Warren counties.