Hampton, Iowa Public Records

Iowa residents can register to vote online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html through the Secretary of State's website. Registration requires an Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The state offers Election Day registration, meaning eligible residents can register and vote the same day at their polling place with proper identification and proof of residence. Those who prefer to register in advance face a deadline of 11 days before any election. Acceptable identification includes Iowa driver's license, Iowa non-operator ID, U.S. Passport, military ID, tribal ID, or voter ID card issued by Franklin County. Voters lacking acceptable ID may use an attestation form. Municipal elections in Hampton follow a schedule set by the city charter, with voters selecting the mayor, city council members, and city officers. Council members serve four-year staggered terms, and regular city elections take place in November of odd-numbered years. City election information, candidate filings, and local ballot measures are available through Hampton City Hall at (641) 456-4611 and the Franklin County Auditor's office. The city website and direct contact with city hall provide information on council meetings, agendas, and local governance matters. Hampton voters can locate their assigned polling place using the Iowa Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/pollingplace.html by entering their address. Franklin County typically operates several polling locations, with precincts in the Franklin County seat serving different areas and consolidated at sites such as the Franklin County Courthouse or local schools. Iowa Code Chapter 22 ensures extensive public access to election records. Voter registration lists can be purchased for political purposes through the County Auditor at a statutory fee. Campaign finance disclosure reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and searchable at https://ethics.iowa.gov. The County Auditor maintains candidate filings, nomination petitions, and financial disclosures for local offices. Precinct-level election results for all federal, state, county, and municipal races are public and posted by the Auditor following certification. The county has voted Republican in recent presidential elections, consistent with much of rural Iowa. One of Iowa's two U.S. Franklin County voters will also decide county offices including county supervisor seats, county attorney, sheriff, auditor, recorder, and treasurer, depending on which positions have terms expiring. Hampton municipal offices are not on the ballot in even-numbered years. Iowa offers no-excuse absentee voting for all elections. Hampton residents can request an absentee ballot by submitting a written application to the Franklin County Auditor's office by mail, email, fax, or in person, or through the online system at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterabsentee/absenteeApplication.html. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is 10 days before the election; the office must receive requests by 5:00 p.m. Voters can request and cast an absentee ballot in person at the County Auditor's office beginning 29 days before Election Day through the day before Election Day, which is the Monday before the Tuesday election. Completed absentee ballots must reach the County Auditor by 8:00 p.m. On Election Day to be counted - postmarks are not sufficient. Iowa does not conduct all-mail elections; polling places remain open for in-person voting on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. To 8:00 p.m.