State Fair Straw Poll to include presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates

DES MOINES – Secretary of State Paul Pate’s annual Iowa State Fair Straw Poll will allow fairgoers to vote for their preferred candidate in the presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races. The poll will be conducted on iPads at the Secretary’s booth inside the Varied Industries Building throughout the Iowa State Fair, August 8-18.

Fairgoers can choose between 25 Democrats and two Republicans in the presidential straw poll. Results will be broken down by party. All fairgoers, as well as the candidates and campaigns, are invited to visit the booth and cast a vote.

“I want all eligible Iowans to register to vote and participate in our elections. The State Fair Straw Poll is a fun, easy way to get people engaged in the process,” Secretary Pate said.

Real-time results will be available on the tablets in the Secretary of State’s booth and online at sos.iowa.gov. The straw poll is unscientific and intended for entertainment purposes only.

Additionally, Iowans can join in the centennial celebration of women being granted the right to vote by picking up a Women’s Suffrage “I’m A Voter” button and bookmark at Secretary Pate’s booth.

The Iowa League of Heroes will be visiting Secretary Pate’s State Fair booth on Sunday, August 11 from 2-4 p.m. They will be posing for pictures and encouraging Iowans to register to vote. Special #BeAVoter trading cards featuring the League of Heroes will also be available.

Secretary Pate is also continuing his partnership with Google and Iowa’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to help businesses grow their online presence. Representatives from SBDC will be on hand throughout the fair to provide entrepreneurs with valuable resources.

“America’s SBDC Iowa and the Secretary of State’s office have built a strong foundation of tools and support for Iowa’s small businesses,” said Lisa Shimkat, state director for SBDC. “We appreciate the opportunity to join up with their team to provide information and direction for Iowa’s small businesses.”

Secretary Pate’s booth, located in the northwest section of the Varied Industries Building, will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. throughout the Iowa State Fair.

###