Iowa Voting Guide

Online Available

Register to vote or update your voter registration online using your Iowa driver’s license or ID number.

• Online registration must be completed 15 days before Election Day.

Click here to Register Online

By Mail Available

Register to vote by mail. Download the Secretary of State’s voter registration form. The form must be completed, printed and mailed to your local county auditor’s office.

• Mail registration must meet the state deadline 15 days before Election Day.

Click here to download the voter registration form

In Person Available

To pre-register to vote, complete a voter registration form and return it to your county auditor’s office 15 days before the election in which you wish to vote.

• In-person registration must be completed 15 days before Election Day.

Click here to download the voter registration form

same day registration Available

Qualified individuals may register to vote at the polling place during the In-person absentee period through Election Day. Iowa Code Ann. §39A.2, §48A.7a

• Same-day registration is available through Election Day where permitted.

Check The Locations Where to Register

military overseas Available

In one step, you can register to vote and request an absentee ballot by completing a federal postcard application (FPCA).

Federal Post Card Application

Non-strict photo ID

Iowa voter ID rule: Non-strict photo ID.

Code: Iowa Code § 48A.7A, Iowa Code § 48A.10A, Iowa Code § 49.78, and 1 more

Accepted forms of ID

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa nonoperator identification card
• United States passport
• United States military card
• Veteran's identification card
• Current and signed voter identification card
• Tribal identification card or tribal enrollment document containing: - photograph, - signature, and - valid expiration date

If you do not have ID

• A registered voter who cannot present one of the primary acceptable forms of identification may establish identity and residence using other approved documents.
• If the voter cannot satisfy any identification option, the voter may cast a provisional ballot.
• The voter must provide acceptable identification to the election commissioner by noon on the Monday following the election for the provisional ballot to be counted.

7:00 AM-9:00 PM

For Primary and General Elections, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. statewide. For other elections, please contact your county auditor for the polling place hours.

Absentee Voting In Iowa

Any registered voter in Iowa may request an absentee ballot through their county auditor.

Voting In Person at the Polls

On election day, you will need to go to the polling place for your precinct to vote.

Click here to Find Your Precinct/Polling Place

Voting By Absentee Ballot

Any registered voter in Iowa may request an absentee ballot through their county auditor. You may cast an absentee ballot in person at your county auditor's office before any election. For primary and general elections, absentee ballots will be available no earlier than 20 days at the county auditors' offices. For all other elections, ballots will be available as soon as they are ready, but not sooner than 20 days...

Click here to download the absentee ballot request Form

Age requirements

Voting age: must be 18 years old by election day to vote

Registration age: You must be at least 17 ½ to register.

Lost Until Completion of Sentence; Waiting Period or Additional Action Required

In Iowa, people with felony convictions may lose voting rights beyond incarceration; restoration can depend on sentence completion, waiting periods, excluded offenses, or additional restoration steps. Governor Reynolds' 2020 executive order restores rights after completion of felony sentences, except for homicide and related crimes. In 2020, Governor Reynolds issued an executive order restoring rights upon completion of sentence, with exclusions.

Citation: Iowa Const. Art. II, § 5

Policy detail

A person convicted of any infamous crime shall not be entitled to the privilege of an elector (Iowa Const. Art. 2, § 5). In 2016, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the ban on felon voting, finding that all felonies are “infamous crimes” resulting in permanent disenfranchisement ( Griffin v. Pate , 2016). The ability of the governor to restore voting rights to persons convicted of infamous crimes through pardoning power was upheld in State v. Richardson , 2017. In 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds issued Executive Order 7...

Recent actions

• 2020 Gov. Reynolds issued an executive order restoring rights upon completion of sentence, with exclusions.
• 2011 Governor reversed 2005 order that restored voting rights automatically.

Time off status: Yes

Any person entitled to vote at an election in this state who does not have three consecutive hours in the period between the time of the opening and the time of the closing of the polls during which the person is not required to be present at work for an employer, is entitled to such time off from work time to vote as will in addition to the person's nonworking time total three consecutive hours during the time the polls are open.

Voter Information Lookup

Use the lookup tool to check your voter registration status, check your polling place location, view your sample ballot, check early voting locations, and 2 more.

Find polling place and ballot details

Movers and college students Voting

If you moved within the county, you may also report a change of address on election day at the polling place for the address where you live. You may be asked to show identification which shows your name and current address. Acceptable forms of identification are:.