Auditor/Commissioner of Elections


Doreen Pliner
Auditor/Commissioner of Elections
701 Central Avenue | Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Phone: 515-573-7175    
Fax: 515-574-3714
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Temporarily Moving

The Webster County Auditor's Office is temporarily located in the 
first floor of the Courthouse in the Treasurer's Office.



Upcoming Election


November 7, 2023
City/School Election

The City-School Election is getting closer by the minute and it's time to make a plan to vote if you haven't done so already.  Your local representation matters. They make the decisions in your schools and your cities. Take three minutes today to visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov and ensure you have a plan to make your voice heard.

Here are some important things to remember:

  • You can vote in person at your county auditor's office through November 6. Hours vary around the state, so double-check your auditor's office hours prior to voting. You will need your Voter ID to cast a ballot!
  • Polls will be open on Election Day, November 7 from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Remember your Voter ID!
  • Double check to make sure you're registered to vote by clicking here. If you aren't registered or your address isn't up to date, you will need to register when you cast your ballot. For information on Election Day Registration, click here.

If you need any additional information, please visit VoterReady.Iowa.Gov or contact the Webster County Auditor at 515-573-7175.



Track Your Ballot     Request Absentee Ballot    Poll Worker Registration

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Responsibilities
The County Auditor has a variety of functions and duties. The main functions are:

  • Preparing and certifying tax levies
  • Maintaining financial records
  • Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
  • Commissioner of Elections
  • Keeping Real Estate Transfer Records

The Auditor calculates tax rates for all taxing entities in the County (schools, cities, townships, etc) by applying taxes levied by those entities to the valuation of each property as determined by the Assessor, and then prepares a tax list showing each taxpayer's share of the total. These figures are then certified to the County Treasurer's Office. Many of the records prepared in the Auditor's office are maintained permanently and are available for public use.

Financial duties of the auditor include the preparation of the County's budget from material submitted by its departments and other agencies and issuing payment of all services, materials, and payroll charged to the County. The Auditor then maintains a ledger for each department in the County throughout the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). The Auditor also keeps and maintains permanent financial records for the County. Many financial reports are published for public information.

As clerk to the Board of Supervisors, the Auditor may perform a variety of duties depending on the size of the County. The Auditor may accept petitions, register complaints, or act on routine business in the absence of the Board. The Auditor often prepares Board meeting agendas, notifies the media, attends all Board meetings keeps and records Board meeting minutes, and publishes the proceedings in the official County newspapers. The Auditor initiates bid notices, solicits proposals for County contracts for materials and services, and receives contract proposals. Official papers dealing with Board of Supervisors' business are referenced and maintained by the Auditor.

As Commissioner of Elections, the Auditor is in charge of all regular and special elections in the County - federal, state, county, city, and school district. The Auditor prepares and supervises the printing of ballots and/or programming of voting machines as well as ordering all election supplies. The Auditor also conducts training for precinct election officials, and provides information to see that the election laws of Iowa are obeyed. This is an important trust placed in the Auditor's care. Assurance that the voting process is conducted according to the law is very important. The Auditor provides public information for, and conducts voter registration efforts in the County. The Auditor maintains all official voter registration records. After an election, the Auditor certifies the results to the state or to the political subdivision involved, and issues certificates of election to the proper persons. Some election records are maintained permanently, others for a specified period of time.

The County Auditor enters and maintains records of all real estate transfers in the count. The Auditor deeps the plat maps and transfer books currents, so that the public can examine the books to determine property ownership. The Auditor's office works closely with area realtors, attorneys, property owners and other individuals who deal with real estate transactions.

Interacting with the Auditor
A citizen may register to vote at the Auditor's office.

A registered voter may vote an absentee ballot at the Auditor's office, or may request in writing from that office that an absentee ballot be mailed.

Information concerning the ownership, valuation and taxation of property in the County is available from the Auditor's office.

A citizen may schedule and appointment with the Board of Supervisors by contacting the County Auditor.
Public information about budgets, taxes, county expenditures, elections, and the proceedings of the

Board of Supervisors is available for examination in the Auditor's office.

History of the Office of County Auditor
The office of County Auditor was created in 1870 as part of a revamping of county government. The duties of the office covered areas that had previously been given to the County Judge in 1851, in the first Code of Iowa, and then to the Clerk of Court in 1861, with the formation of the Board of Supervisors. The State Legislature added the duties of Commissioner of Elections in the early 1970's.

The County Auditor is an elected position, with a term of four years.