Early Primary Election Voting Begins May 15

Absentee voting begins Wednesday, May 15, for Iowa’s June 4 primary elections.

In Mills County, Republicans will have two contested races to vote on for county courthouse positions.

Three candidates are on the Republican ballot for two seats on the Mills County Board of Supervisors – incumbents Lonnie Mayberry and Carol Vinton and challenger Jack Sayers.

The other contested race on the Republican ballot is for county auditor. Ami Petersen, who was appointed to the position in 2023 following the retirement of longtime county auditor Carol Robertson, is opposed by Glenwood City Administrator Amber Farnan.

DeShawne Bird-Sell is unopposed on the Republican ballot for county attorney. She was appointed to the position following the resignation of Naeda Elliott in 2022. Council Bluffs Police Captain Greg Schultz is the lone Republican running for county sheriff.

Incumbent Republican State Rep. David Sieck (District 16) and incumbent State Sen. Mark Costello (District 8) are both running unopposed in the primary.

For Iowa’s District 4 seat in the U.S. House Of Representatives, Republican incumbent Randy Feenstra is getting a primary challenge from Kevin Virgil.

There are no Democrats running for any of the county courthouse offices, but there are two members of the party on the ballot for the legislative seats. Candella Foley-Finchem is seeking the District 16 seat in the House of Representatives and Ryan Lee Roenfeld is running for the District 8 state senate seat.

Ryan Melton is on the Democratic ballot for District 4 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Libertarian Party has one candidate on its primary election ballot – Jessica Brooks, who is running for the county board of supervisors.

Early and absentee voting begins today at the county auditor’s office, located on the first floor of the Mills County Courthouse during normal business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following days: Monday, May 20, Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1. Voters seeking  an absentee ballot in the mail have until 5 p.m. on Monday, May 20, to make their request with the auditor’s office in person or on the county’s website www.millscountyiowa.gov.

Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Questions concerning the election and absentee voting should be directed to the Mills County Auditor’s Office (712-527-3146).