Every Ballot, Every Deed, Every Dollar: What Your County Auditor Actually Does

You probably couldn't tell me what your county auditor actually does. I couldn't either, until I sat down with Whitney Hein.

Whitney is the Jones County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, and by the end of this conversation I had a whole new appreciation for how much of our daily life runs through that office: elections, property taxes, payroll, budgets, the courthouse itself. It's a job most of us vote on without fully understanding, and that's exactly why I wanted her on.

We get into what drew her to the role, what six years in has taught her about resilience, and the behind the scenes work that keeps Jones County elections free, fair, and trustworthy.

If you've ever wondered what actually happens to your ballot after you drop it off, this one's for you.

Meet Whitney

Whitney Hein is the Jones County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, first elected in 2020 and now in her second term. She's a wife to her husband Ben, a mom to their daughter Laney, and lives in rural Jones County, where her family farms. Before stepping into county government, Whitney worked in ag business and animal science.

What You'll Hear

• Everything the auditor's office actually handles, from elections to payroll to property taxes

• Why Whitney left a career she loved for a job she had little experience in

• The behind the scenes security measures that keep Jones County elections accurate, down to numbered seals and hand counted test ballots

• Why local elections deserve just as much attention as national ones

• How to plan ahead for early voting, absentee ballots, and Election Day itself

• What six years in the role taught Whitney about her own resilience

Resources & Links

Jones County Elections: https://www.jonescountyiowaelections.gov or on Facebook

Ballot tracking tool: available here through the Iowa Secretary of State's website

Connect with Whitney

For the fastest response, call the Jones County Auditor's office directly. Full contact info is listed at jonescountyiowaelections.gov.

Listen & Subscribe

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If this one opened your eyes even a little, share it with someone who votes in Jones County (or wherever they call home). The more we understand these local roles, the more we trust the people doing them.