Tama County board accepts petition for filing to reduce supervisors from five to three

The Tama County Board of Supervisors voted to accept for filing a citizen petition submitted Aug. 10, 2026, that seeks to reduce the county board from five supervisors to three.

Chair said the board reviewed the petition for completeness and counted fields filled on the form; "930 on it. 862 is what was required," the Chair said while summarizing the packet. Under Iowa law the board examines petitions for required signatures and, if found valid, must notify the county commissioner of elections to submit the question to registered voters at the general election.

The board acted after a motion and second; members voted by voice with no opposition. Accepting a petition for filing does not itself place the measure on the ballot—there is a separate procedural timeline. The Chair explained the process described in state code: petitions must be filed at least 82 days before a general election, a 5-working-day objection interval follows filing, and if there are no valid objections the board must notify election officials not later than 69 days before the election to place the question before voters.

Commissioner (S2) and Commissioner (S3) participated in the motion and vote. The board also agreed on a review method: members will flag missing names, signatures, residences or dates, tally excluded entries, and submit the final package to the auditor for any further review.

If an objection is filed within the 5-day window, the transcript described an objection review process involving the county auditor, treasurer and county attorney and, if necessary, a hearing—steps the Chair said were outside his "wheelhouse." The board said it will take the next procedural action (notifying election officials) next week if no valid objections are filed.