Polling Places Are Closing Due To COVID-19, It Could Tip Races In 1 Swing State

A local resident arrives to cast her ballot during early voting for the general election on Oct. 20 in Adel, Iowa. A new analysis by NPR, the Center for Public Integrity and Stateline reveals that since 2016, 261 polling places in the state have been closed, most due to COVID-19.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

This story was co-reported by Iowa Public Radio News, the Center for Public Integrity and NPR.

The New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo. The Senior High School in Fort Dodge. The Masonic Temple in Council Bluffs.

But Iowa voters won’t be able to cast their ballot at any of those polling places this Election Day, due to hundreds of closures and consolidations that have rippled across the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.