What to Know for Davenport’s Primary Election on Oct. 7
The primary election includes races for Wards 3, 5 and 7, along with Davenport mayor. The two candidates who receive the most votes will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
DAVENPORT, Iowa — The City of Davenport’s Primary Election is just around the corner.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, voters will head to the ballot box and select who they want to see on the November ballot. The primary election includes races for Wards 3, 5 and 7, along with Davenport mayor.
The two candidates who receive the most votes will be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 City/School Election.
Who is running?
Earlier this year, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson announced he would not be seeking reelection.
Several candidates are in the running for mayor. That includes former Davenport City Council members Judith Lee and Jason Gordon.
Lee served as Davenport’s Eighth Ward alderwoman for four years, from 2019 to 2023. Gordon previously served for eight years as Alderman At-Large before stepping down in 2018.
Quad Cities business leader Jim Huiskamp is also running for mayor. He served as president and CEO of Blackhawk Bank and Trust for 20 years and worked for the Keokuk Community School District prior to that. Lastly, lifelong Davenport resident and community advocate Todd Pirck is also in the running after retiring from MA Ford manufacturing last year.
News 8 will have additional coverage with each of the candidates for Davenport mayor as we approach the Oct. 7 election.
You can visit each candidate’s campaign page by clicking on their name below.
Who is eligible to vote?
To vote in Iowa, a person must be a U.S. citizen and an Iowa resident. Voters can register at 17 years old but must be 18 on Election Day to vote.
Those convicted of a felony, unless their rights have been restored, can not vote in Iowa. In addition, those who have been judged to be mentally incompetent to vote by a court or who claim the right to vote in another state can not vote in Iowa.
For the Oct. 7 election, specifically, voters must reside in Davenport city limits.
How do I make sure I’m registered to vote?
Same-day voter registration is available in Iowa. However, residents are able to register in advance to ensure their information is in the voter records on Election Day and speed up processing times at the polls.
Iowans with a valid driver’s license or ID number can register to vote or update their voter registration online here.
Those without a valid license or ID number must print off a voter registration form from the Secretary of State’s office and return it to their local auditor’s office. For the Davenport election, this is the Scott County Auditor’s Office at 600 W. 4th St. in Davenport. That voter registration form can be found here.
Residents who want to verify they are registered to vote can do so on the Secretary of State’s website here.
The deadline to pre-register to vote is Monday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m.
Same-day voter registration
Those wanting to register on Election Day must go to the correct polling place for their current address. Those who don’t know their polling place can find that information here.
At the polling place, voters must prove who they are and where they live. This is best done with an Iowa driver’s license with the person’s current address.
Those without an Iowa driver’s license can use a photo ID that is current, valid and contains an expiration date. Acceptable IDs include:
- Iowa non-driver ID card
- Out-of-state driver’s license or non-driver ID card
- U.S. passport
- U.S. military ID
- ID card issued by employer
- Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
- Tribal ID
If a voter’s photo ID does not have their current address, additional documentation will be needed. The document must include the voter’s name and current address. The following are accepted:
- Residential lease
- Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check or other government document
For more voter registration information, visit the Scott County Elections page here.
How do I request an absentee ballot?
The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Oct. 7 Primary Election is Monday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. Residents can request a ballot be mailed to their home by completing a request form and turning it in to the Scott County Auditor’s Office by the deadline.
Absentee ballot request forms are available to download on the auditor’s website here. Residents can also request a form be mailed to them by calling the auditor’s office at 563-326-8631.
Ballots will start being mailed on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
When are absentee ballots due?
All absentee ballots must be turned in to the Scott County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7. They can be mailed to the office or hand-delivered.
A drop box is available to return absentee ballots. It’s located at the Scott County Administrative Center on the west side of the parking lot. It will be available starting on Sept. 17 and will be open until 8 p.m., Oct. 7.
Can I vote in person before Election Day?
Residents can vote in person at the Scott County Auditor’s Office starting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, through Monday, Oct. 6. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on absentee ballots and early voting, click here.
When and where can I vote on Election Day?
All poll sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7. People can find their polling location on the auditor’s website here.