Iowa Voting Guide

What are the voter registration requirements in Iowa?

In 2017, the Iowa Senate established ID requirements for Iowan voters. You must prove who you are and where you live.

Acceptable forms of photo ID include the following:

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa non-operator identification card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID or veteran's ID card
• A tribal ID or document
• A current and signed voter ID card

For proof of residence, you can provide the following:

• Your apartment lease
• A government document, such as a property tax statement
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck or government check

Your document must clearly state your current address.

Is there voting registration for special groups?

Some people aren’t able to take advantage of traditional registration methods. Iowa law offers special provisions for these individuals.

Alternate voter registration methods include:

• Homeless or impermanent voters: A homeless person may list where they usually sleep. They must provide an address or a short description of the location. They have to produce a photo ID or an official document displaying their name and address.
• Survivors of domestic violence: Iowa participates in the Safe at Home program. This program offers address confidentiality by providing a legal substitute address, mail forwarding, and confidential voter registration. This is available for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking.
• Military personnel and overseas voters: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ensures Iowa military members and citizens overseas can register and vote by absentee ballot.
• Felons: People who lost their voting rights due to a felony conviction must re-register to vote.

Election officials don’t automatically register you to vote when you submit your voter registration application. They must verify the information you provided on your application. They will contact you once they approve your voter registration application.

You can check the status of your voter registration.

Does Iowa have a voter registration deadline?

Iowa allows voters to register to vote anytime, including election day registration. You must provide a valid photo ID.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Iowa?

Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot. You don’t have to provide a reason. You can download the absentee ballot request form online and mail it to your county auditor. You can also deliver it in person.

Election officials must receive your form at least 10 days before a general election or 11 days before other elections.

If you are in the military, you can register to vote and request an absentee ballot through the FVAP website. You can also request an absentee ballot from your county auditor. You can learn more about military voting in Iowa elections here.

If you are a U.S. citizen living overseas, you can also use the FVAP website to register and request an absentee ballot.

Don't return your absentee ballot to your polling place. Return it to the county auditor's office before the polls close on Election Day.

If you mail your absentee ballot, it must carry a postmark by the Monday before Election Day. The county auditor's office must receive it by noon on the Monday following the election.

You can track your absentee ballot here.

What should I bring to the polls in Iowa?

When you arrive at the polling place, you must present proof of ID.

Any of the following forms of ID will suffice:

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa non-operator identification card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID or Veteran's ID card
• A tribal ID or document
• A current and signed voter ID card

If registering to vote on Election Day, you must submit proof of residence.

Voters without proper identification can have another registered voter attest to their identity. They must sign an affidavit saying they are eligible to vote and are aware that a false claim of eligibility is a criminal offense.

The poll workers will then offer them a provisional ballot. The voter has until the Monday after Election Day to provide county officials with proper identification, or their vote will not count.

Be sure you are in the correct precinct. Iowa does not count provisional ballots voters cast in the wrong precinct.

What special accommodations are available?

The Iowa Secretary of State's website provides extensive information to assist voters with disabilities in registering to vote, voting in person, and voting by absentee ballot.

Each polling location has a special voting terminal with touch screens, audio components, and “sip-and-puff" controls.

You can vote in person at your county auditor's office or a satellite location beginning 29 days before the general election. If you cannot enter the building, you can request curbside voting. Contact your county auditor's office to inform them you need this service.

If you cannot go to a polling place, you can register to vote by absentee ballot. If you are in the hospital or nursing home, you may request a ballot at the healthcare facility.

What should I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

The state of Iowa cares about the integrity, security, and fairness of its election process. To that end, it has set up a voter hotline to make it easy for voters to report suspicious activity to the Iowa Secretary of State's Election Division.

• Report complaints to the online voter hotline
• Call the voter hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE

You can also report voting law violations to the U.S. Department of Justice.

An Iowa Voting Rights Lawyer Can Help

If you have questions about election information, contact an experienced civil rights lawyer in Iowa. They can answer your questions and explain the voting laws in Iowa.

A voting rights attorney can also help if you think someone has violated your civil rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.