Election Day is Nov. 3. Be a voter!

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There are just five days left until Election Day 2020 Nov. 3, in what some are calling the most important election in U.S. history. Early voting numbers are up nationwide, including in Iowa.

The latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll has Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the lead by 12 points over incumbent Republican President Donald Trump — four times the lead Hillary Clinton had in 2016.

Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by 2.1 points, 48.2 to 46.1 percent, but Trump won the Electoral College thanks to a combined 77,000 votes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

No candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984 has won by a double-digit margin, and no incumbent has lost by more than 10 points since Herbert Hoover in 1932.

In Iowa, according to fivethirtyeight.com, Biden holds a slim 47-46 lead over Trump as of Oct. 26. In Iowa's U.S. Senate race, Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield leads Republican incumbent Joni Ernst 49-48 in a toss up. In the Iowa U.S. House District 2 race, Democrat Rita Hart leads Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 54-45.

According to Muscatine County Auditor Leslie Soule, more than 10,430 ballots have been issued thus far in Muscatine County, with more than 8,616 returned. Of those, 1,920 have voted in person.

In Cedar County, according to Auditor Cari Dauber, there have been 4,405 ballots issued, with 1,050 voting in person and 3,355 returned via the mail or at the office. There were 707 ballots still outstanding as of Oct. 24. Absentee numbers are up vs. 2016 and 2012.

The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.

Voters may designate any person of their choice to deliver their voted absentee ballot to the auditor. Voters still have the option of mailing the ballot, postage is prepaid. To be counted, ballots delivered by mail must be postmarked no later than midnight, Nov. 2, and received no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 9. Hand-delivered ballots must reach the auditor’s office no later than 9 p.m. (closing time of the polls) on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Voter ID requirement for

in-person absentee voting

Voters who vote absentee in person pursuant to Iowa Code 53.10 or 53.11 are required to provide proof of identity.

Absentee voting in the auditor’s office started on Monday, Oct. 5, through Monday, Nov. 2.

Election Day polling places for Farmington and Sugar Creek precincts in Durant (Cedar County) vote at the Durant Community Center. The Inland precinct will vote at the Bennett Community Building on Main Street.

In Muscatine County, Wilton and Moscow townships, plus Durant city vote at the Wilton Community Center. The Wilton city township also votes at the Wilton Community Center. Reminder that ID is required for Election Day voting as well.

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