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Marshalltown voters will have the opportunity to decide the fate of a proposed five percent franchise fee on gas and electric bills at the polls today, and those who reside in the city's southwest quadrant can also choose a new city councilor between the two candidates on the ballot.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. First Ward voters will cast their ballots at the Marshalltown Public Library (105 W. Boone St.), while those in the Second Ward will vote at Malloy Hall on the Iowa Veterans Home campus (1301 Summit St.). Third and Fourth Ward voters will both cast ballots at Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 1600 S. Center St.
The franchise fee, if enacted, would be assessed to all residences and businesses within the city of Marshalltown and would result in a net four percent increase as a one percent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) is currently applied to utility bills. The revenue generated would be disbursed as follows: 70 percent to roads, 12 percent to property tax relief, nine percent to public safety and nine percent to facilities maintenance.
As for the other matter, Third Ward voters will choose between Chris Bennett and Greg Nichols to determine who will fill the vacancy left by former Councilor Dex Walker's resignation in July. The winner will serve until the end of the four-year term Walker was elected to in 2021, ending in December of 2025.
Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter's vehicle. For further information, please contact the Marshall County Auditor's office at (641)754-6302 or by e-mail at election@marshallcountyia.gov. For TTY access, dial 711 + 641-754-6302.
Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered - such as voters registering to vote on Election Day - and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence. A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter's identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the county auditor's office by noon on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023.
Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or call (641) 754-6302.