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UpdateIowaMonday, November 9, 2026

Johnson County, Iowa counted 2,000 missed absentee ballots

About 2,000 absentee ballots were found unopened after Election Day and counted with no change to any race outcome.

By the Democracy SENTRY deskPublished

Reporting by
KCRG
“Johnson County finishes counting 2,000 missed absentee ballots, finds no effect on final results”, Monday, November 9, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

The Johnson County Auditor's Office counted about 2,000 absentee ballots found unopened in a secure ballot storage room after the November 3 General Election. The ballots were discovered still boxed on November 5, and tabulation ran from November 6 to November 8. The count changed no outcomes in any state, federal, county, or township race, nor any amendment or ballot measure.1

Auditor Julie Persons said the chain of custody was never broken. The full results will be canvassed at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 10.1

2,000
absentee ballots found unopened1
What it means in Iowa

What this means for Iowa voters

The county board of supervisors receives the results from the county auditor, canvasses them and sends them to the Secretary of State.2

Key dates in Iowa

Election Day in -10 days
  1. Wed, Oct 14 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Mon, Oct 19 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  3. Mon, Nov 2 · passed
    Early voting ends
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · passed
    Election Day; Registration deadline; Mail ballots must arrive
  5. Mon, Nov 30 · 17 days
    State certification

Every date in Iowa, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Iowa · Nov 9
Page County, Iowa released unofficial results for November 3, 2026 election
Reporting by Page County Auditor
Iowa · Nov 9
Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott flipped Iowa's 3rd District
Reporting by Iowa Public Radio
The answers behind this
How votes are counted and made officialVoting in Iowa, 2026Who certifies the election in Iowa, and by when?What is the difference between counting the votes and certifying them?

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Sources

  1. KCRG, https://news.google.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?oc=5 · Monday, November 9, 2026
  2. Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/

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