MADISON COUNTY, Iowa — Next Tuesday, voters across Madison County will cast their ballots in a high-stakes Special Election that will determine who officially takes the reins as County Auditor — after months of political tension and public scrutiny.

Temporary auditor Matthew Schwarz and former board of supervisors clerk Michele Brant are on the ballot.

On Wednesday morning, voters were able to witness the public testing of voting equipment. The testing was done by a third-party voting system vendor. And it’s a vital part of safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the election. It also helps to cultivate public trust in the voting system — a welcomed assurance after nearly eight months of uncertainty with the office and after a previous election had some issues with a voting machine.

A steady stream of people were in Winterset to vote absentee Wednesday. Residents told WHO 13 that they’re pleased their fellow residents petitioned to hold this special election and they are looking forward to learning the outcome..

“I think it will be pretty good. I think that it will hopefully turn things around,” Scott McTaggart, a Winterset resident, said.

“I feel like there’s a lot of excitement about it, so I wanted to make sure and vote,” Joe Vandinkel, a Cumming resident, said.

Officials say the voting machines will stay under lock and key until Tuesday morning, when they are then transported to one of four locations across the county. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Voters can cast their ballot at any of the four designated locations county-wide.

The auditor told WHO 13’s Katie Kaplan they hope to have unofficial results by 8:30 or nine Tuesday night, but of course the official results won’t be available until after the canvas on September 2.