How to vote in Iowa
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Iowa voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Iowa registration using the Iowa voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Iowa you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Iowa
- be 18 years old by Election day (If you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- not currently be judged by a court to be “incompetent to vote"
- not claim the right to vote in more than one place.
You can register to vote online if you have an Iowa driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
- Visit the Iowa online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 15 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Your ID number is your Iowa driver's license number (or Iowa non-driver identification number) if you have one, if not then the last four digits of your social security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You may register with a party in advance if you want to take part in that party’s primary election. You may change or declare a party affiliation at the polls on primary election day.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 15 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your non-expired driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring a photo ID that shows your name, address, and expiration date. This can include a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, an employee ID card, a student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college, or a tribal ID. If your photo ID does not contain your current address you can bring one document that shows your name, address, and is current within 45 days. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Iowa has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your non-expired driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring a photo ID that shows your name, address, and expiration date. This can include a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, an employee ID card, a student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college, or a tribal ID. If your photo ID does not contain your current address you can bring one document that shows your name, address, and is current within 45 days. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored after you complete your parole or probation, unless you were convicted of homocide.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Iowa absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: 70 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Iowa voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Iowa does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Iowa absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 15 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 15 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Iowa absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by close of polls on Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are hospitalized within 3 days of Election Day. Your application must be received no later than 4 hours before polls close on Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 4 hours before polls close on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is close of polls on Election Day or postmarked one day before Election Day.
Contact your local election office
Iowa early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Iowa or the Federal Government, or a tribal ID that has a photo and signature and valid expiration date. Iowa does accept student ID if it includes a photo and expiration date. If your photo ID does not show your current address, you must also bring a document that shows your name and address, such as a utility bill, lease, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and address and is current within 45 days. If you do not have ID, another registered voter may sign a form confirming your identity or you may show your election registration documents.
Iowa voter ID guide
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Iowa or the Federal Government, or a tribal ID that has a photo and signature and valid expiration date. Iowa does accept student ID if it includes a photo and expiration date. If your photo ID does not show your current address, you must also bring a document that shows your name and address, such as a utility bill, lease, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and address and is current within 45 days. If you do not have ID, another registered voter may sign a form confirming your identity or you may show your election registration documents.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have an Iowa driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
Bring your non-expired driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring a photo ID that shows your name, address, and expiration date. This can include a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, an employee ID card, a student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college, or a tribal ID. If your photo ID does not contain your current address you can bring one document that shows your name, address, and is current within 45 days. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Iowa elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Elections Division Office of the Secretary of State Lucas Building‐1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319