Floyd County Voting Precincts “Undecided” After Recent State Review

Floyd County officials say postponing the upcoming March 1st one-cent local option sales tax (LOST) special election isn’t an option, despite the challenges they’re facing to get state approval of county voting precincts in time for ballots to be cast.

The County approved voting precincts in December and sent them to the Iowa Secretary of State office for approval, or, that’s what they expected. County Audio Gloria Carr told the Board of Supervisors Monday that those precincts were rejected, but because they received notice after the deadline to have those precincts set, they’re left scrambling to be ready for the special election, now less than a month away.

Carr says the County is also in a crunch to get poll workers trained and notify voters who will need to cast ballots in a new precinct. Plus, ballots are required to be ready 20 days prior to the election date.

The voting precincts are also impacted by the new supervisor districts that the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) has yet to set. Carr gave an example of what counties are up against in setting new precincts based on the 2020 census.

Carr says she hopes to get additional clarification for the Secretary of State’s office yet this week as to what the County does next.

Both the City of Charles City and Floyd County will ask voters for approvals of a new one-cent LOST taxes to take effect for 10-year runs on January 1st, 2023.