Iowa City voters say voting in every election brought them out to the polls

IOWA CITY -- A handful of Iowa City voters when asked what brought them out to the polls on Election Day said they showed up because they vote in every election.

Anne Klein, 59, is one of those Iowa City voters who votes in every election. Klein cast her ballot at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4330 St Patricks Dr.

She normally votes in person on Election Day but voted by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calvin Long said he has voted both early and in person during previous elections. This year, he voted in person at the Iowa City Community School District, 1725 N Dodge St. He has been following various national issues and conversations, including about the economy.

Hannah Rapson, 40, also voted at the Iowa City Community School District precinct and votes in every election. Rapson expressed her disappointment and concern with Gov. Kim Reynolds policies.

“It’s really disappointing to see the direction she’s taken Iowa politics,” Rapson said.

Rapson said an important issue to her is women’s health and the right to choose.

Rapson brought up how there’s many issues that might seem black and white, but it is often these issues that have a “gray side.”

“It’s often not as simple,” Rapson said. “We need to talk more with one another.”

Iowa City voters want to make their voices heard

IOWA CITY -- The flow of voters at St. Patrick Church in Iowa City has been steady throughout the day, poll workers said. As of 3 p.m., the Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported 23.1 percent turnout at the precinct -- 459 of 1982 registered voters.

Countywide turnout, as of 3 p.m., was reported at 24.19 percent -- 22,003 of 90,948 registered voters.

For Gretchen Brown, 47, one of the main issues that brought her out to vote is protecting the right to life from conception to birth. Brown has also followed the governor’s race closely and the retention of judges is also very important to her.

“We have the responsibility to vote,” Brown said.

For Ellie Biebesheimer, 24, an issue important to her is women’s access to reproductive health, including abortion and birth control. She said this issue is especially important to her in light of Roe v. Wade being overturned earlier this year.

Biebesheimer said she generally tends to lean more Democratic and her beliefs align more with those of Democrats. She’d like to see more Democrats in office and wanted to make her voice heard on Election Day.

One Iowa City voter almost didn’t vote – but friends and family reminded him of the importance

IOWA CITY -- Jorge Guerra has voted regularly since 2008, but the last time he was excited for an election was 2012. Guerra, now living in Iowa City, voted for the first time in California.

Guerra shared that he did not want to vote this year but his friends and family reminded him how important it was to have his voice heard. So, Guerra voted in the afternoon at his precinct, St. Patrick Church in Iowa City.

He said the elections in 2008, 2010 and 2012 were different, with energizing candidates and ideas.

Guerra said he’s concerned about the future. Guerra said he feels like the government has not been reliable and has been “intervening in such personal ways.”

He brought up government intervention into personal decisions, such as abortion, health care and buying a house.

Miller: It's up to candidates how to respond to ballot omission

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller siad it'll be up to Linn County Supervisor District 1 candidates Mark Banowetz and Kirsten Running-Marquardt what will happen after the race was left off Putnam Township ballots. The Gazette's Gage Miskimen has the update:

Updated story here:

288 cast ballots were affected by this error as of 4:15 p.m.

Miller said ultimately it’s up to candidates what happens next depending on tonight’s results.https://t.co/upKvFsje7D https://t.co/VwUM9mNk9s

— Gage (@GageMiskimen) November 8, 2022

Energy of Election Day brings local woman out to the polls

Kimyama Bell, 44, said she loves voting on Election Day because she enjoys seeing how hectic it can get. Her experience at her designated polling location at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, however, was smooth sailing.

Bell, who lives in southwest Cedar Rapids, said she came out to vote because she wants to see younger legislators in power who care about education, homelessness and quality living conditions.

“We have rights. In our country, especially being an African American, we fought for these rights,” she said. “It's important for me to keep doing what my ancestors fought for.”

Bell, who is pro-choice, said she hopes that Democrats will be kept in office during this election to protect reproductive rights.

“Hopefully, we can just keep this going,” she said. “We'll see.”

Kimyama Bell, 44, of Cedar Rapids, prefers to vote on Election Day so she can experience the spirit of the event. But it was smooth sailing when she cast her ballot at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Library on Tuesday. (Brittney J. Miller/The Gazette)

Local woman's unplanned pregnancy influenced her vote

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Abby Fett, 24, and her boyfriend switched off watching their baby as they took turns voting at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Library on Tuesday.

Fett said she originally planned on getting an abortion when she found out about her unplanned pregnancy — but then she thought she lost the fetus.

“I thought I had a miscarriage, and I thought that I wasn't pregnant anymore,” she said. “Twenty-six weeks later, I find out I'm still pregnant.” At that point, Fett was too far along to have an abortion.

She calls her now 7-month-old son, Forest, perfect and a blessing — but life-changing nevertheless.

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Fett's 24-year-old boyfriend, Nicholas, underwent a vasectomy to prevent another unplanned pregnancy. She said she wants other women to be able to decide if they want an abortion since she feels like she didn’t get the choice.

“If I don't feel like I'm ready to have another kid, I don't want to sacrifice my mental health and his well-being for the sake of just having another baby that's not going to get all the love and the care and everything that it needs,” Fett said.

That’s why reproductive rights was one of the biggest issues encouraging her to vote this year, along with legalizing marijuana.

Fett has voted in every election since she reached legal age. She said voting is important to her because it’s a difficult time, especially for young people. Elections are one avenue to compel change — even though individual votes may not mean much, she said.

“Our democracy definitely needs some work,” she said. “(I think it’s important to) just do everything that you can to make your voice heard and make change in any way that we can.”

Abby Fett and her boyfriend, Nicholas, pose with their 7-month-old son, Forest, at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library on Tuesday. Fett said reproductive rights were important to her for this midterm election. (Brittney J. Miller/The Gazette)

Putnam Township ballots omitted Linn County supervisor race

When Linn County Board of Supervisor candidate Mark Banowetz walked into his polling place Election Day, he didn’t see his District 1 race on the ballot.

“I was excited to vote for myself and at least guarantee one vote for me, but the race wasn’t even on there,” Banowetz told The Gazette.

Republican business owner Banowetz and Democratic state Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt are seeking the seat left by the departing Supervisor Stacey Walker.

The Gazette's Gage Miskimen has more about the ballot omission.

Hinson, Mathis stick to their core issues on final day of campaigning

Mary Yacovone-Riepe asks Liz Mathis if she can get her anything. Coffee? Water? A margarita?

Mathis laughs and politely declines.

The 64-year-old Democratic state lawmaker from Hiawatha stopped at the Hy-Vee Market Grille in Marion as part of a Tuesday morning circuit greeting the coffee crowds at shops and diners in Cedar Rapids and Marion, reminding people to get out and vote.

Mathis is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, in Tuesday’s midterm election for Iowa’s new 2nd Congressional District. Hinson is serving her first term in the U.S. House after unseating first-term Democrat Abby Finkenauer in 2020.

Hinson briefly waited in a line of about 17 people Tuesday morning to cast her ballot at her polling location at Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center in Marion.

“I think the message is going to be heard loud and clear today at the polls that Iowans are tired” and want a check on spending, energy and border policies being pushed by President Joe Biden’s administration and congressional Democrats, Hinson said.

She said House Republicans are committed to combating inflation and strengthening the economy. Their plan calls for cutting government spending, ramping up energy production and increasing funding to border enforcement and police officers.

“My goal is to make sure Iowa has a seat at the table,” said Hinson, who sits on the influential House Appropriations Committee. “And I think my role is going to be absolutely critical there, especially when it comes to oversight and accountability. We’ve tried to fulfill that even serving in the minority, while still delivering on Iowa’s priorities and getting those targeted investments here.”

Mathis started the day at 6 a.m. dropping campaign literature off at doors and reminding people to vote.

Many of those Mathis spoke with Tuesday morning at Hy-Vee in Marion had already voted – either early in-person, by mail-in absentee or at the polls earlier that morning.

“A couple say there are some long lines, but the lines go quickly,” she said. “It’s good to see people turning out to vote.”

Mathis, like Hinson, said she felt upbeat.

“We’ve let people know what our agenda is,” Mathis said.

That includes protecting a woman’s ability to make personal health care decisions by codifying abortion rights in federal law, increasing domestic energy production and releasing oil reserves to bring down oil prices, investing in new infrastructure, expanding high-speed internet access and protecting Social Security and Medicare from Republican proposals that would cut benefits.

“They know my background. I’m a farmer’s daughter,” Mathis said. “They know and they trust me. I was a journalist here for a number of years (as was Hinson), and I feel that relationship with many of the voters. And I’ve done a lot of work for them as a state senator over the last 10 years. It’s time to go to Washington (D.C.) and it’s time to do work for them there.

Yacovone-Riepe, 59, of Marion, said she’s met Mathis “numerous times” in the past to discuss animal-welfare issues, calling her “amazing” on the issue.
However, Yacovone-Riepe said she would not be casting a ballot for Mathis Tuesday after she gets off work, due their opposing views on abortion.
Yacovone-Riepe said she is “pro-life, period.”

“I go exactly to what the Bible says, and I vote according to the Bible – God’s word,” Yacovone-Riep said. “… That’s how I roll.”

She called the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this summer overturning the constitutional right to abortion “marvelous.”

Yacovone-Riepe said voting on Election Day gives her more time to do her research on the issues and candidates and to pray on her decision.
“Liz Mathis is very nice, very sweet, very wonderful. I like her,” she said. “But, it comes down to my faith and it comes down to God. I’m going to be standing in front of him, and there’s no way I vote for taking away a life.”

Both Hinson and Mathis said they plan to spend the day thanking volunteers and spending some down time with family ahead of Election Night watch parties this evening.

Abortion issue encouraged Cedar Rapids woman to vote

Delaney Dicus, 24, lives right down the street from her designated polling location at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Library.

She said the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade — which had personal implications for several of her family members — was the biggest issue encouraging her to vote this year.

“I believe everyone should have a right to their own bodies,” Dicus said.
It was her second time voting, and she said she hopes this year’s election will prompt change in Iowa — particularly for more autonomy and safety for women.

“You're in America. You have a voice that deserves to be heard,” Dicus said. “Even though you feel like you're not making a difference, that small little black hole can make a really big difference to the whole world.”

Delaney Dicus, 24, of Cedar Rapids, said the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade was the biggest issue that got her to the polling location on Tuesday. (Brittney J. Miller/The Gazette)

Photos: Students vote at University of Iowa

Polling volunteer Paul Potter helps Iowa freshman Molly Owen submit her ballot while voting at Catlett Hall on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City on Tuesday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Students at the University of Iowa registered to vote and cast ballots at polling locations in Iowa City Tuesday. Photojournalist Savannah Blake caught images of them voting. 

Iowa QB Petras: 'no right to complain' if you don't vote

University of Iowa student-athletes spoke Tuesday about the importance of voting in the midterm elections. That message aligns with the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which set a goal of 90 percent of Hawkeye athletes voting.

Quarterback Spencer Petras took advantage of early voting in Johnson County last week to do his “civic duty.”

“You have no right to complain about anything if you don’t go out and make your voice heard,” Petras said.

The Gazette's John Steppe has more in a story about UI athletes' Election Day comments.

State election office reports Iowa early voting down by 30 percent

As Erin Murphy reports in the tweet below, the Iowa Secretary of State's office is saying early voting across all party affiliations was down more than 30 percent his year when compared with 2018. 

Final, unofficial early vote #s from @IowaSOS, and their comparison to 2018:

Total: 368,071 ⬇️32%
Democrats: 186,080 ⬇️19.6%
Republicans: 121,717 ⬇️36.3%

— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) November 8, 2022

Photos: Bohannan canvasses in Iowa City on Election Day

Congressional candidate Christina Bohannan shakes hands with a student while talking about voting in the midterm election on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City on Tuesday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Photojournalist Savannah Blake was in Iowa City Tuesday afternoon to capture photos of Christina Bohannan, the Democratic challenger for Iowa's First Congressional District, speaking with students at the University of Iowa.

Final numbers show Reynolds outraised DeJear, 5-to-1

Erin Murphy reports on the final total amount of money raised by the campaigns for Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democratic challengeder Deidre DeJear.

Final fundraising #s in 2022 #iagov campaign:

Kim Reynolds, R (inc.): $11.2M
Deidre DeJear, D: $2.4M

— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) November 8, 2022

Video: Hinson, Mathis comment on their Election Day efforts

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, and her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Liz Mathis, of Hiawatha, speak about the work they've done (and were doing Tuesday) to get out the vote. The pair are running in Tuesday's midterm general election to represent northeast Iowa's newly drawn 2nd Congressional District.

Photos: Mathis pushes to get the vote out on Election Day

Mary McLain of Cedar Rapids works the phones as she contacts voters on Election Day at the Linn County Democratic Headquarters in northeast Cedar Rapids. Iowa State Senator and Democratic U.S. Congressional candidate for Iowa’s 2nd district Liz Mathis faces incumbent Ashley Hinson. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Gazette photojournalist Jim Slosiarek was out today capturing images of Democratic challenger state Sen. Liz Mathis' final push to get out the vote on Election Day. Mathis is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Economic issues key for many voters Tuesday

MARION -- Issues on a sampling of Eastern Iowa voters’ minds as they exited the polling place and walked to their cars Tuesday morning included the economy, border security, inflation and the national debt.

“We’re giving away too much money,” Bruce Vieth, 53, of Marion, said of pandemic relief spending by Congress. “I don’t think it’s allocated properly, and way too many handouts.”
Vieth said he feels the federal government “gave so much money away, but what did it really do?”

“We’re just digging a bigger and bigger debt,” he said.

Asked about passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which the White House and Liz Mathis, the Democrat running for Iowa's Second Congressional District, say will address inflation by lowering energy and health care costs for families and by helping to bring down the deficit, Vieth said he feels “it’s so hard to honestly believe anything anymore” that Democrats say.

“Because they come up with all of these plans and I don’t ever see out debt changing, in my mind,” Vieth said. “We just continue to go backwards.”

Jason DeKock, 41, of Marion, said he cast his ballot Tuesday for “common sense, fairness.”

He said abortion rights and fiscal responsibility were his top issues in Tuesday’s election.

DeKock described himself as a “middle-of-the-ground-type guy” who regularly votes in midterm and presidential general elections.

“I appreciate politics that are in the middle somewhere, that are fair and make sense and aren’t extreme,” DeKock said.

On the issue of abortion, he said he doesn’t feel the issue “should be black or white.”

“So if there was a politician who, for instance, thought it should be all or nothing, either way, I probably wasn’t someone that would support them,” DeKock said. He said he chose to cast his ballot in person on Election Day out of tradition.

“I like to be here on Election Day and vote in person. It just feels right,” DeKock said.

North Liberty voter says 'It's about humanity'

NORTH LIBERTY -- Outside the Johnson County polling place at North Central Junior High on Tuesday morning, one North Liberty mother of two said her faith compelled her vote.

“It's just time. It's the end of the book of Revelations. We the people are tired of it, so it's just time,” she said. “It's not even about politics anymore. It's not about the parties. It's about humanity.”

Hoping Tuesday’s election will shake things up and bring about change, the woman said, “Let’s get the party started.”

“Let’s vote out some of the corruption,” she said, adding, “It’s in God’s hands now. God's going to win either way … And I'm just here to show up and represent every man, woman, and child.”

Photos: Hinson, Mathis make final campaign push

Iowa Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson signs in to vote at the Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center in Marion on Tuesday. Hinson is running against Democrat Liz Mathis in her bid for re-election in Iowa’s second congressional district. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

MARION -- On the final day of campaigning, Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic challenger state Sen. Liz Mathis were out in Marion. Hinson cast her ballot Tuesday morning, while Mathis met with voters at a local grocery store. Gazette photojournalist Nick Rohlman was there to capture the moments.

Many of the voters who talked with Mathis said they'd made up their minds, and many had already voted. 

Bert and Jean Graham, both 72, of Marion, were eating breakfast at HyVee in Marion on Tuesday. Bert Graham voted straight red ticket and yes on Iowa Public Measure No. 1, which would add a right to own and bear firearms to the Iowa Constitution and require strict scrutiny for any alleged violations of the right brought before a court. The Grahams said that abortion and inflation were the primary reasons they voted Republican. “Life is important and should be preserved and besides, gas prices,” said Bert.

After more than 50 years of voting, North Liberty woman still hopes results will signal change

NORTH LIBERTY -- In a couple weeks, Patricia Chapman will turn 79, and trying to recount the number of elections she’s voted in required too much math for a brisk November morning.

“Since I was 21,” the North Liberty woman told The Gazette on Tuesday about how long she’s been casting ballots for community, state and national leaders.

She said this year’s election -- albeit not a presidential year -- feels important given the economic pains she’s experiencing.

“Everything's upside down,” she said. “I have to take out a second mortgage to go to HyVee to get groceries. And it's just me. I can't imagine being what I used to be -- a single mom with three children and three jobs. No, no, no.”

When asked, then, whether she’s hoping today’s election will compel change, Chapman said, “Always.”

Coralville couple says 'God-given right' to vote got them out Tuesday

CORALVILLE -- Getting to the polls Tuesday morning wasn’t necessarily easy for Cathy Leazenby, 72, of Coralville, and her husband Dick Leazenby, who uses a wheelchair. But, as Cathy prepared the chair for her husband and readied herself to help him from their car, she said their decision to vote was more than a choice.

“It’s our right,” she said about 10 a.m. outside her polling place at Wickham Elementary. “It’s a very important day, and it’s our God-given right to be able to vote and choose our leaders.”

The couple -- regarding this specific election and the votes they cast -- were energized by several issues, namely the economy and abortion.

“We want our nation going in the right direction and making Godly choices,” Cathy Leazenby said. “I think that we as people cannot be killing babies. So we're against abortion.”

Dick Leazenby said, “I don’t think we need big government -- government making choices for us.”

“And higher taxes,” his wife said, “and our retirement being dwindled down to not very much.”

Regarding a proposed amendment adding gun rights to Iowa’s constitution, the couple said they support gun ownership and believe any restrictions others might propose won’t hamper criminal activity.

“I think that the people that are using the guns and killing people, they're going to get the guns whether we say it's okay or not,” Cathy Leazenby said.

Photos: Ballots are being cast in southeast Cedar Rapids

Beyossiba Pamazi of Cedar Rapids helps his mother-in-law Elise Bokoya Ntena of Cedar Rapids fill out her ballot while voting at the Linn County Harris Building in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Savannah Blake, a photojournalist with The Gazette filed photos of voting at Linn County's Harris Buiding this morning.

Harassment of poll workers remains a top concern

Linn County election officials have been working for months to ensure they have enough people to work at all of the county's polling locations today. The Gazette's Tom Barton spoke with Linn County Auditor Joel Miller in September about how workers were being recruited and his concerns about their safety.

Linn County voters, find your supervisor district

Use these interactive maps to find your Linn County supervisor district and see which candidates are seeking to represent you. Linn County has three supervisor districts, but District 3 - represented by Louis Zumbach - is not up for election this year.

Photos: Voters wait in line to cast ballots in northeast C.R.

Lilith Sumner, 1, smiles as she grabs hold of Shiree Revers ballot while waiting in line to vote at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Gazette photojournalist Savannah Blake was at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids this morning to capture images of Election Day. At least one voter there told her the wait this morning was the longest she can remember.

Get a free ride to the polls today

If you'd like to vote and you don't have a way of getting to your polling location, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City transit are here to help. Both departments are offering free rides today.

🗳🚌✅🇺🇸 City of Cedar Rapids Transit Offering Free Bus Rides on Election Day! https://t.co/qCGhmu51Pv

— City of Cedar Rapids (@CityofCRiowa) November 7, 2022

It’s Election Day, and you can take a City bus to any voting precinct or anywhere else for free! Learn more at https://t.co/iPUJF4QSjC. pic.twitter.com/Y5Di4S86O6

— City of Iowa City (@CityOfIowaCity) November 8, 2022

11 a.m. Election Day turnout update from Linn County

11 AM turnout numbers can be found at https://t.co/YEXwaav0Sq.

— Linn Co. Elections (@lc_elections) November 8, 2022

Cumulative turnout is at 23.23%. Polling place turnout is at 13%.

— Linn Co. Elections (@lc_elections) November 8, 2022

Article about the judges up for retention is trending at TheGazette.com

Courts Reporter Trish Mehaffey wrote about this a few weeks ago and web searchers are showing great interest in it today.
Here are the results of evaluations done by the Iowa State Bar Association:

Term limits are an issue for one local voter

Sydney Pilcher, 35, of Cedar Rapids, said she believes that midterm elections are very important.

“There are changes that may need to come about within the first few years of a federal election,” Pilcher said.

Additionally, she said the U.S. Senate role should have some limitations going forward on terms and length of service. There are no caps on how many six-year terms a candidate can seek.

Pilcher declined to say whether she supported a particular candidate in the race between Iowa’s senior U.S. senator, Republican Chuck Grassley, and Democrat Mike Franken.

“You can only be president for eight years, so why can you be in the Senate for my entire life?” Pilcher said.

Pilcher regularly votes and said she simply likes to vote in person on Election Day.

“No matter if your vote cancels out your neighbor’s, it's still important to exercise your right to (vote),” Pilcher said.

Sydney Pilcher, 35, of Cedar Rapids, casts a ballot at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. She said she believes U.S. Senators should have limits on terms and length of service. (Marissa Payne/The Gazette)

The final push to today began last weekend

Wondering what the candidates have been up to in recent days? Erin Murphy and Tom Barton explained the sprint to Election Day in a story The Gazette published last weekend. 

C.R. woman waited to vote Tuesday to make sure her vote counts

Margaret Gillespie, 84, of Cedar Rapids said she has voted early in the past sometimes, but voted in person on Election Day this year to ensure her ballot was properly counted.

“Most of the people say that if you vote on Election Day, there is a better chance of your vote being honest,” Gillespie said.

Plus, “I’m able to get up and get out,” she said.

Two years ago in the 2020 general election, Gillespie said there were claims the vote was stolen, and she heard that to help with that this year, people should vote on Election Day in person. 

Gillespie said she heard this from politicians, bloggers, different news outlets and people she talks to.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, has made baseless claims of widespread fraud after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in his 2020 bid for re-election as president. Elections officials around the country have debunked such claims and said the election was secure and Biden legitimately won.

Gillespie declined to say how she voted, but said she has voted long enough to remember using machines with levers that needed to be pressed down.

Gillespie said she hopes all eligible voters go out vote today.

“Exercise your rights while we still have them,” Gillespie said.

Margaret Gillespie, 84, of Cedar Rapids, said she waited to vote on Election Day to make sure her ballot is counted. She cast her ballot at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids. (Marissa Payne/The Gazette)

Use these maps to find the candidates on your ballot

Still not clear who's on your ballot? The Gazette's John McGlothlen built interactive maps that let you zoom in on where you live to find your Iowa House and Iowa Senate, as well as the candidates who are seeking to represent you, and a link to The Gazette's profile of those candidates. 

Abortion, union strike influence one Cedar Rapids voter

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A steady stream of voters trickled into Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids as parents dropped off their kids at the adjoining preschool Tuesday morning.

Danielle Rodriguez, 48, of Cedar Rapids said she typically votes for Democrats and supports the party’s policies, but sometimes votes across party lines.

Rodriguez said she doesn’t personally believe in abortion but is pro-choice as she supports people’s right to choose what is best for them.

“I don’t feel like people that don’t live in my house should have the right to tell me what to do,” Rodriguez said. 

Additionally, Rodriguez said she took into account which politicians showed support to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 100G strike against Cedar Rapids’ Ingredion. The strike has gone on more than three months.

Rodriguez, whose husband works there, said seeing who came out to support the workers was a big factor in her deciding to vote for candidates such as Democrats state Sen. Liz Mathis, who’s running to unseat Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s 2nd District, and gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear, who’s challenging Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. 

“It's like they want to take away vacation, they want to force them to work even on their day off, so that was really important to me personally,” Rodriguez said. “That should be important to everyone here because that's a good paying job that has affected our people going out to eat and people supporting the Kernels game.”

Rodriguez said she recalls voting with her mom around age 5, so she has always voted as much as she can because politics was important in her family. 

“Sometimes it doesn’t seem it would be as important to vote, and that’s when you need to vote,” Rodriguez said.

Danielle Rodriguez, 48, of Cedar Rapids, votes at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 8. (Marissa Payne/The Gazette)

Liz Mathis talking with folks at Marion Hy-Vee, reminding people to get out and vote

.@LizMathis1 greeting the coffee crowds this morning at the Marion Hy-Vee, reminding people to get out and vote. Sounds like everyone here she’s spoken to has already voted. Mathis is asking them about their experience, sounds like all report a smooth process. #IA02 pic.twitter.com/Kwj1wmd8LZ

— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) November 8, 2022

9 a.m. Election Day turnout update from Johnson County

9 AM Election Day turnout 6,044 (6.65%). Compares to 5426 (5.77%) 2018. Does not include early vote. https://t.co/81LixSpEpa

— Travis Weipert (@jcauditor) November 8, 2022

Ashley Hinson casts ballot

Tom was there as Ashley Hinson cast her ballot in Marion minutes ago

.@RepAshleyHinson waits in line to cast her ballot on #ElectionDay at her polling location in Marion. Line of about 17 waiting to vote, but is moving quickly. Hinson is running for re-election to #IA02 US House seat against @LizMathis1. pic.twitter.com/NXUgBtA3BU

— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) November 8, 2022

Confusion persists over gun amendment

Voters have struggled in recent months to understand a proposed gun rights amendment and what it would mean in Iowa.

Tom Barton reported this summer on what the amendment's passage could change. But when he talked to voters who were casting early ballots last month, he found that some people were confused by the amendment language that refers to "strict scrutiny."

And this morning, Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy fielded an Election Day call from a voter who admitted confusion.

Just fielded an #ElectionDay call from a reader who was confused about Iowa's proposed gun rights constitutional amendment. Just the latest example ... the similar stories are remarkably plentiful.

Here's @tjbarton83's explainer from August: https://t.co/wQkJG4UB0K

— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) November 8, 2022

An easy start to the day in Marion

Tom Barton, The Gazette's Deputy Des Moines Bureau Chief, is talking with voters in Marion this morning. 

No lines and a steady trickle in and out of Lowe Park polling location in Marion. Issues on sampling of voters’ minds as they exit and walk to their cars: the economy, border security, inflation and the national debt. #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/6R5zAA4Ge0

— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) November 8, 2022

It's Election Day: How, when and where to vote

Happy Election Day! If you skipped early voting and plan to cast a ballot today, we have you covered. From where to vote and how to get there, to how to find out who's on your ballot, The Gazette's Erin Murphy has it all. (And that includes a look at early voting numbers, which are down significantly.)