Early voting has begun for the Ames City Council elections that will be held on Nov. 5.

The Story County Auditor’s Office is open for all eligible voters residing in Story County to cast their votes.

“When I knock on doors around campus, students give me about two seconds of their time before they shut the door,” said Justin Dodge, City Council candidate for 1st Ward.

The last chance to vote for city council is Nov. 4.

Voters can also request a mail-in absentee ballot. Citizens can fill out an official Iowa absentee ballot request form.

There are three ways to turn in the absentee ballot: hand delivery, someone else can hand deliver the ballot for another and mail in ballot. The form can be mailed if postmarked no later than Nov. 4.

Ballots can be hand delivered to the auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on voting day. Absentee ballots can be sent through mail or hand delivered to the county auditor’s office.

Further instructions can be found in absentee ballot package.

“This election is going to have important consequences for the next 20 years,” said Timothy Gartin, City Council candidate.

College students may vote at their home address or their college address. Students cannot register to vote at both, according to Matt Schultz, Iowa secretary of State.

Any eligible voter can register to vote on Election Day. The voter must show proof of identity as well as proof of current residence.

Voters may find proof of residence on a residential lease, utility bill, bank statement or any other government document.

“All of the City Council candidates are great people, the kind of people that should be on city council,” Gartin said.

Each ward will have its own election polling places on Election Day. Iowa State’s campus is designated as 4th Ward.

The candidates for the election are Gloria Betcher and Justin Dodge for 1st Ward, Timothy Gartin for 2nd Ward, Peter Orazem for 3rd Ward and Chris Nelson and Victoria Szopinski for 4th Ward. The at-large candidates for City Council are Amber Corrieri and Anne Kinzel.

“It’s going to be like nothing we have ever seen before because of the redistricting,” said Mayor Ann Campbell.