Polling places, candidates and more: Everything to know ahead of June 4 primary in Johnson County

The June 4 primary election is near, marking the official start of the 2024 election season.

Wondering where to vote or who is on the ballot?

Here is everything you need to know before entering the voting booth:

How can I vote?

Residents hoping to cast a ballot in the June 4 primary election must determine whether they want a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian ballot before entering the voting booth.

There is not one general ballot for those who do not declare a particular political party. Primaries serve as a nomination process for candidates seeking to appear on the November general election ballot.

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When can I vote?

The primary elections take place on June 4, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot has passed, but early voting is also available each weekday at the county auditor's office.

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Where do I vote?

The county auditor's website allows residents to access detailed information about their polling place at https://gis.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/pollingplaces/.

Residents may enter their address or browse the precinct map. The website also provides the opportunity for residents to view sample ballots ahead of entering the ballot booth.

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Can I still vote early?

Johnson County residents can vote early at the county auditor's office each weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through June 3. The office will also be open on Saturday, June 1, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Due to renovations, the county auditor's office has been temporarily relocated to the Johnson County Health & Human Services Building located at 855 S. Dubuque Street.

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Who is on the ballot?

In the June 4 primary, voters will receive a ballot based on their political party. That means not every ballot will look the same.

Some candidates will appear across a large portion of ballots.

For example, in Johnson County, all voters with a Democratic party ballot will choose only between registered Democrats. This includes Iowa's 1st Congressional District candidate Christina Bohannan, incumbent Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel, long-time auditor Travis Weipert and five candidates for the county Board of Supervisors.

Those with Republican ballots will choose between Marianette Miller-Meeks and David Pautsch, candidates for the 1st Congressional District, regardless of where they reside.

Races for the Iowa Legislature will also appear on Johnson County ballots. To see what specific state House and Senate races may appear on your ballot, visit the county auditor's polling place lookup site at https://gis.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/pollingplaces/.

Voters with all three party ballots can also write-in candidates.

The county's $30 million ballot initiative, aimed at continued conservation, will not appear on the primary election ballot.

More: Johnson County Supervisors OK language for $30M conservation ballot initiative. What to know:

How do I register to vote?

The pre-registration deadline for the June 4 primary has passed, but Election Day registration is still available for voters registering for the first time or who need to update their information.

Voters should bring proof of identification and proof of residence to the polls. The Iowa Secretary of State's office provides an outline of the documents that are accepted as proof of both.

If those documents are not available, voters may bring an attester. The voter and attester will take an oath regarding the validity of the vote.

Voters may pre-register to vote during the general election on Nov. 5 through mid-October.

Johnson County residents with a valid Iowa driver’s license can register to vote in the general election online.

All other individuals with licenses or non-Iowa IDs must complete a paper form, either by filling the form out and returning it to the Johnson County auditor’s office. They can also visit the auditor’s office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the pre-registration period.

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Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What Johnson County voters need to know ahead of the primary election