An open seat on the Cedar Falls city council won't be permanently filled until this summer, at the earliest.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has rescheduled the at-large vacancy election to July 7, due to the coronavirus.

The election to fill the seat, left empty when Rob Green was elected mayor, was originally scheduled for March 24. It was then moved a week to March 31 to accommodate increased early voting through absentee ballots.

Absentee ballots already voted and those currently being requested and sent to voters will all be valid and will be counted on July 7.

As health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to ramp up daily, Pate’s office kept in close contact with Black Hawk County Auditor Grant Veeder and his election staff. According to a press release, Pate’s office contacted Veeder Friday afternoon with the decision to move the election to July 7.

The special election was scheduled after the Cedar Falls city council appointed former Councilman Nick Taiber to fill the seat in January. Following his appointment, residents presented the council with a petition that called for the special election.

For questions, contact the Black Hawk County Election Office at 833-3007 or election@co.black-hawk.ia.us.

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