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Johnson County Auditor
Commissioner of Elections
and Voter Registration


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Tom Slockett, Auditor

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Political Parties and Campaigns

What is a political party?

A political party is an organization through which individual citizens work with others of similar ideas to elect candidates and influence the policies and conduct of government.

The functions of a party are to:

  • choose candidates to run for office in the general election
  • work for the nomination and election of its candidates
  • formulate the party platform or stand on issues
  • carry out party policies
  • educate citizens in civic and political matters.
What are the political parties in Iowa?

To qualify for official party status, a party must win more than 2% or the vote for President or governor in each general election.  Iowa currently has two official political parties: Democratic and Republican.

Parties that do not meet the legal requirements are formally known as non-party political organizations.  Beginning January 1, 2008, voters may register with two non-party organizations that have completed a petition process, the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.

Can I register with another party?

No, but it is possible that other parties may qualify for the ballot or that other non-party organizations may complete the petition procedure

More information on ballot access and political party status

Can a third party candidate run for office in Iowa?

Anyone who meets the legal requirements may run for office.  Candidates who are not the nominees of the Democratic or Republican parties qualify for the ballot through a process called nomination by petition and may choose whether or not to list the name of a non-party political organization on the ballot.

Do I have to choose a party in order to register and to vote?

No. If you do not wish to belong to a political party or non-party organization, you may leave the party boxes blank when you register or check the box marked "No Party."  However, only voters who register with a fully qualified party may vote in a partisan primary election. (June, even numbered years).

I thought I was registered with one party but my card says I'm registered with another one.

You may have voted in a primary election or attended a caucus and changed your party affiliation at that time.  If you wish to make any changes or corrections, you can use the back of your voter card.

How do I declare or change a party affiliation on my voter registration record?

Just check the box for the party or non-party organization of your choice on the registration form. There are no other requirements.  If you leave the space blank or mark "No Party," you will be registered with no party.

Why can't I register as an Independent?  Why does it say "NON" on my voter card?

The abbreviation "NON" stands for No Party, which means that you are registered without any party affiliation.  The term "No Party" is specified by the Secretary of State and used consistently statewide.

I registered as a Green, why does my card says NON?

The Greens had full party status from 2000 to 2002, but lost party status after the 2002 election.  At that time, county auditors were required by law to change the registration of all Greens to no party.  Details  If you wish to change your status back to Green, you need to re-register.

Am I required to work or give money to the party?

No. You have no obligations when you register with a party.

If I choose a party, do I have to vote for all their candidates?

No. A voter's statement of party preference is in no way binding. Voters may choose whichever candidates they wish in secrecy without regard to party preference in the general election.

Primary Elections

A primary is an election that takes place within each official political party.  No one is elected in a primary election.  Instead, voters affiliated with political parties select their party's candidates for the November general election.  Only voters who register with a party may vote in a primary election, and only the official parties hold primaries.

June 3, 2008 Primary Election

If you are registered to vote as a Republican, for example, in the primary election, your vote will help choose the Republican Party's nominees for various offices. Since you, as a registered Republican, are selecting your party's candidate to run against candidates from other parties in the general election, you will be given a ballot with only Republican candidates to choose from. You will not see the names of any Democratic or other candidates on your primary election ballot.

In the general election, which decides who will actually fill the offices, all voters in your precinct get the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation.  The general election ballot may also include candidates of non-party political organizations, which do not hold primary elections.

NOTE: A city primary (October, odd numbered years) is not a partisan primary election and eligible voters may participate regardless of party affiliation.

So can I vote for a Republican for one office and a Democrat for another?

In a general election, yes.  In a primary election, no.

Can I write in a candidate of one party in the other party's primary?

Yes, but the party primaries are separate contests.  If you write in the name of a candidate running in a primary, what you are saying is that you want that person to be your party's candidate.  A write in vote on a Republican ballot does not count as a vote in a Democratic primary contest, and a write in vote on a Democratic ballot does not count as a vote in a Republican primary contest.

Can a candidate be nominated as a write in?

A candidate must win 35% of the total primary vote in order to be nominated as a write in.

Can a candidate be the nominee of more than one party?

Some states allow candidates to appear on the ballot as the nominee of more than one party, a practice called "fusion."  However, Iowa law does not allow fusion.

Do non-party organizations have primaries?

No, but they may qualify candidates for the ballot through the nomination by petition process.  Only the two fully qualified parties, the Democrats and Republicans, hold primaries.

If I choose a party when I register, can I change later?

Yes, you just have to re-register. Any Iowa voter may re-register and change party affiliation at any time, including at the polls.

How do I contact the political parties in Johnson County?

Johnson County Democrats
PO Box 1773
Iowa City IA 52244
Phone: 337-8683
Chair: Brian Flaherty
Headquarters: 625 S. Dubuque St.

Johnson County Republicans
PO Box 1384
Iowa City IA 52244
Phone: 339-8381
Chair: Bill Keettel
Headquarters: 920 Maiden Ln.

Links to nonpartisan election resources | Disclaimer

 

How can I find out about the candidates before I vote?  Can I get information from your office?

The Auditor's Office provides contact information for campaigns, candidates, and parties.  Before each election we post a list of candidates and ballot issues that includes addresses and (if available) phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web sites so that you may contact the campaigns yourself. 

We do not provide campaign literature or answer specific questions such as how a candidate stands on a given issue.

Campaign Finance

Committees no longer file with Auditor: Due to changes in state law, all local campaign committees file with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) as of January 1, 2003.  Candidates for statewide or legislative office also file with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.  Candidates for federal office file with the Federal Election Commission.

Committees do not automatically close once an election ends.  The candidate or officers must close the account with a zero balance and account for all funds raised and spent.

For more information, please contact the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board.

Memo from IECDB Director Charlie Smithson to county auditors, May 30, 2008

Campaign Signs

Campaign signs larger that 32 square feet must carry a disclaimer ("paid for by").

Some cities have ordinances regulating when yard signs may be displayed.  However, courts have determined that such laws are an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, and these ordinances are no longer enforced.

Signs may not be placed in the right of way.  In most residential areas this means between the sidewalk and curb.

Signs on Corporate Property: Campaigns for Candidates

Campaigns may place signs on corporate property under certain conditions.  In all cases, other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Corporate property occupied by corporation:

  • Candidate sign placement prohibited.

Corporate property occupied by individual tenants:

  • Campaigns may place signs in common areas with written permission from all occupants.
  • Signs may not be placed in the corporate office.
  • Individual tenants may place signs in the area they are leasing.

Individual property leased to a corporate tenant:

  • Campaigns may place signs with written permission from the corporate tenant.

Property owned by a family farm corporation:

  • Campaigns may place signs.

Property rented as a campaign headquarters:

  • Campaigns may place signs.

Copies of written permission should be available from the campaign committee upon demand.

Signs on Corporate Property: Ballot Issue Campaigns

Ballot issue campaigns may place signs on corporate property.  Other sign regulations (size and right-of-way) still apply.

Sign Enforcement

Our office is not responsible for the enforcement of sign laws.  Complaints about signs should be directed to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

 


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Please e-mail questions or comments to Auditor@pobox.com.
Phone: (319) 356-6004 FAX: (319) 356-6086
Mailing address: 913 S. Dubuque St., Suite 101, Iowa City, IA 52240