2024 IOWA VOTER GUIDE

     

    1.Voter Registration

    Deadline to Register/Update by mail or online: October 21, 2024

    In-person registration available on election day

    REGISTER ONLINE

     

    2. Check Your Registration

    Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.

    Check Your Registration Online

    Update Your Registration Online

    Checklist:

    • Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
    • Correct Address
    • Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
    • Correct Date of Birth
    • Correct Political Party Preference
    • Take a time-stamped photograph or screenshot of your registration, and take it with you to the polls as proof of your registration.

     

    3. Voter ID Law

    Source: Ballotpedia

    Iowa requires voters to present identification (ID) while voting. Accepted forms of ID include Iowa driver’s licenses, Iowa non-operator IDs, U.S. passports, and Iowa voter ID cards. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.

    Iowa automatically mails free voter ID cards to registered voters without valid Iowa Department of Transportation-issued IDs.[1]

    If unable to provide an accepted form of ID, voters may instead have another registered voter attest to their identity or provide election day registration documents that prove their identity and residence.[1]

    Voters who cannot meet one of the above requirements while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.

    Iowa’s voter ID requirements are outlined in Iowa Code §49.78. The law states, “To ensure the integrity of, and to instill public confidence in, all elections in this state the general assembly finds that the verification of a voter’s identity is necessary before a voter is permitted to receive and cast a ballot. … Before a precinct election official furnishes a ballot to a voter under section 49.77, the voter shall establish the voter’s identity by presenting the official with one of the following forms of identification for verification.” To view the full text of the law, click here.

    Forms of accepted ID

    Voters can present the following forms of identification:

    • Iowa voter ID card
    • Iowa driver’s license
    • Iowa non-operator ID
    • U.S. passport
    • U.S. military ID or veteran ID
    • Tribal ID card/document

    Voter who do not have one of the IDs listed above may have another voter attest to their identity, or they may provide a combination of other documents to verify their identity and residence. The following additional documents are acceptable proof of identity:

    • Out-of-state driver’s license or non-driver ID card
    • ID card issued by employer
    • Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
    • Another photo ID that is current, valid, and contains an expiration date

    The following documents are acceptable proof of residence:

    • A photo ID from one of the lists above that includes the voter’s current address
    • Residential lease
    • Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
    • Bank statement
    • Paycheck
    • Government check or other government document
    • Property tax statement

    Voters without the required identification or another voter to attest to their identity will be offered a provisional ballot.

    Provisional ballot rules

    Voters in Iowa are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.

    (1) If a voter’s name is not on the list of registered voters, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

    (2) If a voter’s qualifications to vote are challenged, and the voter cannot prove that he or she is eligible to vote, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

    (3) If a voter requested an absentee/mail-in ballot but did not surrender them at the polls, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

    (4) If a voter does not have the required identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

    Voters who cast a provisional ballot have the right to present evidence indicating that they are eligible to vote to precinct election officials or the county auditor’s office by a deadline specified on the provisional ballot envelope.

    A provisional ballot is rejected in the following circumstances:

    • If the voter did not provide proper identification;
    • If the voter was not registered in the precinct on election day;
    • If the voter returned an absentee/mail-in ballot that was counted;
    • If the voter is not qualified to vote; or
    • If the voter is “inactive/pending and has not provided ID as required by the time the board meets to consider provisional and challenged absentee/mail-in ballots.”

    Was your provisional ballot counted?

    Provisional ballot voters are given a written notice explaining their voting rights and listing the date when the special ballot board meets. Voters may provide evidence to precinct election officials or the county auditor’s office by the deadline listed on the provisional ballot envelope to verify their identity and/or residence. If a voter’s ballot is not counted, he or she will receive a letter in the mail explaining why it was not counted, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

    Voters can contact their county auditor for questions related to their provisional ballot.

     

    4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot

    Deadline for Absentee Mail Ballot application: Must be received by 5:00 PM on October 21, 2024

    We recommend requesting your absentee mail ballot as soon as possible and well in advance of this deadline in order to ensure that you receive your ballot in time.

    Request Mail-in Ballot

    Track Mail-in Ballot

    Voted absentee ballots CANNOT be delivered to a polling place on Election Day. A voter’s options if they have not returned their absentee ballot by Election Day are:

    – Deliver voted absentee ballot to the county auditor’s office before the polls close on Election Day.

    – Surrender one’s voted absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot.

    – Vote a provisional ballot at the polls if one cannot surrender their voted absentee ballot.

    Deadline to return Absentee Mail Ballot: must be received no later than 8:00 pm on November 5, 2024

    Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot:

    Iowa has a Surrender Rule. If you have a desire to vote in person on Election Day but you are registered to vote via absentee ballot, then you should bring your ballot to surrender and then vote in person using an official ballot. If you do not have your absentee ballot to surrender, there does not seem to be an electronic poll book in Illinois that will allow you to vote with an official ballot, and you will be forced to vote with a provisional ballot.

    Source: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html

     

    5. Early Voting Information

    • In-person absentee voting is open from October 16 – November 4, 2024.
    • You may vote early in person at your County Auditor’s office before any election. Find your County Auditor’s office here: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditorslist.html
    • You must vote your absentee ballot in person at the auditor’s office or at a satellite early voting station before election day. You cannot take the ballot home with you.
    • For primary and general elections, absentee ballots will be available at your County Auditor’s office no earlier than 20 days before the election. For all other elections, ballots will be available as soon as they are ready, but not earlier 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.
    • For voters who need assistance in marking their ballots, an accessible ballot marking device is available at the County Auditor’s office.
    • 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. Voters without the necessary ID or an attester will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for Primary and General Elections).
    • For a list of acceptable identification and other frequently asked questions visit:https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterIDfaq.html#13
    • For more information regarding federal, state and local elections contact your state election official online: https://sos.iowa.gov . To contact Iowa Secretary of State, Paul D. Pate call 888.767.8683 or email: sos@sos.iowa.gov

     

    6. Become a Poll Worker!

    • Become a poll worker!
    • Poll workers must be 16 years old or over, and a registered voter (if over 18) in their county
    • Sign up here: https://pollworker.iowa.gov/

     

    7. Additional Questions?

    https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/index.html