WINTERSET, Iowa — Residents of Madison County are gearing up to head to the polls next week for a Special Election that will officially choose their next Auditor.

Public test:

A public test of the voting equipment will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Auditor’s Office on the first floor of the Madison County Courthouse, located at 112 North John Wayne Drive in Winterset.

WHO 13 is told that a representative from Adkins Election Services will be on hand for the test and the official election on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Optimal Scan Equipment will be used to count the votes cast, according to a news release issued by the Auditor’s Office.

Candidates:

Voters will choose between temporary Auditor Matthew Schwarz and former Auditor Clerk Michele Brant for the seat, which has had a complicated year of controversy and confusion. Schwarz is running as a Republican. Brant, a life-long Republican, is running as an Independent.

Election Day:

On election day, the polls will open at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. County-wide jurisdiction for this election means there are no precincts, and that anyone can vote at any of the following locations on election day:

-Macksburg WRC Hall- 110 South St, Macksburg, IA, 50155
-St Charles Parish- 305 Main St, St Charles, IA 50240
-Earlham Community Building- 140 S Chestnut Ave, Earlham, IA, 50072
-Winterset Jackson Building- 1146 W Summit St, Winterset, IA 50273

Any voter who is physically unable to enter a voting location has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle. For further information, please contact the County Auditor’s office at the following phone number or email: 515-462-3914 Email: CoAuditor@madisoncounty.iowa.gov.

Registered voters are asked to bring a government-issued ID. Those who are not pre-registered, including those who have a change of residence, must also provide proof of residency.

For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence, visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid, or call 515-462-3914.