Letter to the Editor: Confidence in Allamakee County election results

To the Editor:
On behalf of the Allamakee Democrats, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the election officials who worked together for a fair, safe and smooth election in Allamakee County. This includes the poll workers, many of whom were poll workers for the first time, as well as the experienced poll workers.

These individuals from different communities and different political parties trained together, worked together, put in long hours at the polls and helped make it possible for voters to vote on Election Day.

This year, poll workers had the worries of the coronavirus, yet they gave of themselves and their time.

Voting started long before Election Day. Many voters voted early by mail or in-person at the Auditor’s Office. The staff in the Auditor’s Office increased the ease of voting early. Auditor Denise Beyer commissioned an Auditor’s Drop Box outside the courthouse for safety and convenience. What a tremendous asset.

On Election Day, the Auditor implemented a system of checks and balances, and the bipartisan Absentee Board worked together to get ballots counted. The checks and balances, along with the new vote counting machine and the conscientiousness of staff and volunteers, instills confidence in the election results.

Although we, as Democrats, would have liked to see our Democratic candidates win Allamakee County, we remain grateful for our democracy, for our right to vote, and for our fellow citizens who helped with the election.

Allamakee Democrats’ Executive Board
Karen Pratte
Lori Egan
Ann Hart
Kathy Hannum
Kathy Hay
Katie Hanson
Ann Klees