The end is nigh

Voters will put an end to the barrage of candidate commercials, mailers and other advertisements when they head to the polls on Nov. 8.

Voting locations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters in the Hartley area will cast ballots at the Hartley Community Center, while Everly-area residents will head to the Hap Ketelsen Community Center. Royal-area residents will vote at the Royal Community Building.

Voters must vote in the precinct in which they reside. If you're unsure of where to go, contact your county auditor's office.

There are no contested races on the ballot at the local level in O'Brien County. District 4 Supervisor Dennis Vanden Hull, District 5 Supervisor Dan Friedrichsen, Treasurer Missy Hattermann and Recorder Susan Smith are all running for re-election as incumbents. Also running unopposed for the county attorney's seat is newcomer Katie Morgan. All five are Republicans.

Clay County's ballot features one contested local race, as incumbent Democratic County Attorney Travis Johnson is being challenged by Republican Ashley Herrig. Elsewhere, the three open county supervisors seats feature three contestants running unopposed – Barry Anderson (incumbent), Allen Batschelet and Courtney DeLoss. All are Republicans.

Incumbent Treasurer LeAnn Black and incumbent Recorder Sheila Weeks are also running unopposed. Both are Republicans.

A loaded slate of contested races at the state and federal levels will greet voters next Tuesday. If you'd like to see a sample ballot, they are available by visiting your county auditor's website.

• Election Day requirements

Iowa voters are required to show an Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID or veteran's ID, tribal ID/document or Iowa voter ID card at the polls before they vote. A voter without one of the listed forms of ID may have the voter's identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day registration documents. Voters without the necessary ID or an attester will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes.

You may register and vote on Election Day. To do so, you first must go to the correct polling place for your current address on Nov. 8.

At the polling place, you must prove both who you are and where you live. The best way to do this is with your valid Iowa driver's license with your current address printed on it. If you do not have an Iowa driver's license, you may use a photo ID that is current, valid and contains an expiration date.

If your photo ID does not contain your current address, you may use another document (paper or electronic format) to prove where you live if it contains your name and current address and is current within 45 days. If you cannot prove who you are and where you live, a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. Both you and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true.