Iowa Voting Guide

How do I register to vote in Iowa?

In 2017, Iowa established ID requirement for voters. You will need to prove who you are and where you live. For proof of identification you can provide one of the following:

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa non-operator's 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 (if you don't have a drivers' license with a current address), 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

There are several ways you can register to vote (see above) as well as:

• For homeless or impermanent voters: For voter registration purposes, a homeless person may list their residence as the place where they usually sleep, providing an address or a short description of the location. You will need to provide a photo ID or an official document showing a name and address.
• For survivors of violence: Iowa participates in the Safe at Home program, which 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.
• For military and overseas voters: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) makes sure Iowa military members and citizens living overseas can register and vote by absentee ballot.
• For former offenders whose voting rights have been restored: You must re-register to vote.

You are not automatically registered to vote simply by completing a voter registration application. The information you provided on your application must still be verified by your county election officials. You will be contacted when your voter registration application is approved, or if more information is needed.

You can check the status of your voter registration.

When is Iowa's voter registration deadline?

Iowa allows voters to register to vote at any time, including registering at the polls on Election Day. You will need to provide proof of identification (see information below on what to bring to the polls).

How do I request an absentee ballot in Iowa?

Any voter can request an absentee ballot. You do not need to provide a reason. You can download the absentee ballot request form online and you must deliver it or mail it to your county auditor (not by email or fax). Your form must be received by the county auditor no later than 10 days before a general election (a Saturday) or 11 days before other elections in which you wish to vote by absentee ballot (by 5 p.m. on Friday).

If you are a military member, you can use the FVAP website to register and to request an absentee ballot. You can also ask your county auditor if you wish to receive and return your ballot by mail, email, or fax. Learn more about military voting in Iowa elections.

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

Do NOT return your completed absentee ballot to your polling place. Return it to the county auditor's office by the time the polls close on Election Day. If you mail your absentee ballot, it must be postmarked no later than the Monday before Election Day and received in the county auditor's office no later than noon on the Monday following the election.

You can track your absentee ballot.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Iowa?

You will need to provide proof of identification at the polls. You can use any of the following:

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa non-operator's 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 you are registering to vote on Election Day, you will also need to prove residence. See information on voter registration above.)

Voters without proper identification can have another registered voter attest to their identity. They will be asked to sign an affidavit saying they are eligible to vote and are aware that a false claim of eligibility is a criminal offense. They will then be offered a provisional ballot. The voter has until the Monday after Election Day to provide county officials with proper identification, or their vote will not be counted.

Be sure you are in the right precinct. Iowa does not count provisional ballots 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 equipped with touch screens, audio components, and/or “sip-and-puff" controls. (See which type of voting terminal your county uses.) Then see the bottom of the Secretary of State webpage on disabilities for videos showing how to use that specific type of voting machine.)

If you are not able to go to a polling place, you can register to vote by absentee ballot. In that case, you can vote in person at your county auditor's office (or a satellite location) beginning 29 days before the general election. If you are unable to enter the building, you can request to vote curbside. Contact your county auditor's office to let them know you need this service.

If you are unable to vote at your precinct because you are hospitalized, you may request a ballot at the healthcare facility.

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

Iowa is concerned with the integrity, security, and fairness of its election process. They have set up a voter hotline to make it easy for voters who believe they have witnessed a questionable activity to report that 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.

For local legal advice if you feel your voting rights have been violated, you can also contact an Iowa lawyer experienced in voting law.