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VOTING IN IOWA

Voter Eligibility - Who Can Vote?​

Under federal law, if you move within 30 days of a presidential election, you are allowed to vote for President and Vice President in your former state of residence, either in person or by absentee ballot.
  • Minimum Age To Vote: must be 18 years old by election day to vote
  • Minimum Age To Register To Vote: You must be at least 17 ½ to register.

To register to vote in the State of Iowa , an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a United States Citizen
  • Be a Iowa resident
  • Be At least 17 1/2 years old (must be 18 years old by election day to vote)

You cannot register to vote if:

  • You are a convicted felon (unless your voting rights have been restored)
  • You are judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court
  • You claim the right to vote in any other place

Ways To Register To Vote​

By Mail​

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.

In Person​

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.

Online​

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

Same Day Voter Registration​

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

How Do I Know I'm Registered?​

  • Consider yourself registered when- and only when- you receive an acknowledgment from your county clerk.
  • Never assume you are registered to vote until you have received this acknowledgment.
  • Call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application.
  • https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/search.aspx

Military and Overseas Citizens​

Other ways to register to vote​

Ways To Vote​

Voters have the following 2 Options to vote:

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 before an election. In-person absentee voting is not available on election day at the auditor's office unless the polls open at noon. If the polls open at noon, you may cast an absentee ballot at the county auditor's office from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on election day.

Voting In Person at the Polls​

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

Voter Identification​

  • Voter Identification Law Enacted? YES

Iowa Voters - The following documents are acceptable forms of identification:​

  • Iowa Voter Identification Card
  • Iowa driver’s license
  • Iowa Non-Operator ID
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
  • Tribal ID Card/Document

Iowa has a Non-strict voter identification law​

  • Iowa voters are required to show an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID or veteran’s ID, tribal ID/document or Iowa voter ID card at the polls before they vote. A voter without one of the listed forms of ID may have the voter’s identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents.

What about voters who don’t have an ID?​

  • Any registered voter who does not have a valid driver's license or non-operator's ID issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation will be issued a Voter ID Card for free, automatically, in the mail. This also applies to anyone who registers to vote in the future. Upon receipt of the Voter ID Card, it should be immediately signed. Obtaining the Voter ID Card does not require any further documentation or action by the voter; voters simply need to be registered to vote in the county where they live.

Voter Information Lookup​

  • Voter Information Lookup Tool​

  • Use this tool to:​

    • Check Your Voter Registration Status
    • Check Your Polling Place Location
    • View Your Sample Ballot
    • Check Early voting locations
    • Check The Status Of Your Absentee Ballot
    • And more