Burlington, IA – The close race for a seat on the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors is not over yet. Jeff Heland received 34.6% of the vote, but cannot claim victory. Des Moines County Elections Coordinator, Terri Johnson, says Iowa law requires a primary candidate get at least 35% of the vote to move on to the general election. She says there are still about 70 absentee ballots out in the community, but only those postmarked June 5th or earlier will be counted. The official vote canvassing will take place on Tuesday. If Heland receives enough of the late absentee ballots to push him past the 35% barrier, he will be the winner. If no candidate has 35% of the vote after the canvass, Johnson says the Des Moines County Democratic Party will have to hold a convention to pick the winner. Current board chairman Ed Blow and former Supervisor Ben Diewold each received just under 33% of the vote. At this time, the eventual winner will run unopposed in November.
Election in Southeast Iowa Not Over
