Hampton, Iowa Public Records

The Hampton Police Department is responsible for law enforcement within the city limits. The department's records, including incident reports and arrest logs, are considered public documents and can be requested through the department's records division. Contact information and procedures for requesting records can be found on the city's website at https://www.hamptonia.gov/police-department.

Hampton voters are served by the Franklin County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, located at the Franklin County Courthouse, 12 1st Avenue NW, Hampton, IA 50441, phone (641) 456-5626. The County Auditor administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Hampton residents and maintains voter registration records, polling place assignments, absentee voting, and election results. The office website at www.franklincountyiowa.gov provides election information, sample ballots, and results.

Iowa residents can register to vote online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html through the Iowa Secretary of State's website. Voter registration requires Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID number, or the last four digits of Social Security number. Iowa offers Election Day registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote on the same day at their polling place with proper identification and proof of residence. The deadline for advance registration is 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 the county. Iowa also allows use of an attestation form if a voter lacks acceptable ID.

Hampton conducts municipal elections for mayor, city council members, and city officers on a schedule determined by the city charter. Hampton City Council members serve four-year staggered terms, with regular city elections held in November of odd-numbered years. The next Hampton municipal election will be November 2025. 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. Residents can find information on city council meetings, agendas, and local governance issues through the city website or by contacting city hall directly.

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 including precincts in Hampton serving different areas of the city, consolidated at locations such as the Franklin County Courthouse or local schools.

Iowa maintains extensive public access to election records under Iowa Code Chapter 22. Voter registration lists are available for purchase for political purposes through the County Auditor at a fee set by statute. 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. Candidate filings, nomination petitions, and financial disclosures for local offices are maintained by the County Auditor. Precinct-level election results for all federal, state, county, and municipal races are public and posted by the Auditor following certification.

In the November 2024 general election, Franklin County recorded approximately 5,100 ballots cast out of roughly 6,800 registered voters, representing approximately 75% turnout for the presidential election. Franklin County has traditionally voted Republican in recent presidential elections, consistent with much of rural Iowa.

The November 3, 2026 general election will feature crucial races for Iowa voters. The entire Iowa House of Representatives (100 seats serving two-year terms) will be on the ballot, including the state representative seat serving Hampton and Franklin County. One of Iowa's two U.S. Senate seats will be contested in 2026 (the Class II seat currently held by Senator Joni Ernst, whose term expires January 2027). Iowa does not have a gubernatorial election in 2026 (the Governor serves a four-year term with the next election in 2026). 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 in 2026. 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 absentee ballot request system at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterabsentee/absenteeApplication.html. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 10 days before the election (must be received by 5:00 p.m.). Voters can request and vote an absentee ballot in person at the County Auditor's office beginning 29 days before Election Day through the day before Election Day (Monday before the Tuesday election). Completed absentee ballots must be received by 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.