Ryan Peterman for Iowa Secretary of State

Make sure you have a plan to vote!

Election Resources

Absentee ballot request form

https://bit.ly/3PFb0W0

Absentee ballot request form with receipt (If you collect a request form from someone else)

https://bit.ly/4uO6GDR

Important Dates:

May 13th: Early voting begins for the primary election.
May 18th: Deadline to request absentee ballot for primary election from your county auditor. The auditor’s office must receive a request form by 5pm. It is also the deadline to register to vote, although Iowa does allow same-day voter registration on Election Day.
June 2nd: Primary election; polls are open from 7am to 8pm.
August 25th: First day to request absentee ballot for general election
October 19th: Deadline to request absentee ballot for the general election, and last day to register to vote.
November 3rd: General election; polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

Make sure you’re registered to vote

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

To participate in the primary election, ensure you are registered as a member of the party whose primary you plan to vote in.

How to register to vote:

You can register to vote by submitting a voter registration form to your county auditor at least 15 days before the election (May 18th for primary, October 19th for general election).

Voter registration form: https://bit.ly/4uNdVfk

You can register to vote online on the DOT website if you have a drivers license or nonoperator ID: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fVoterRegistration

You can register to vote on election day at your polling location. You will need to provide photo ID and proof of residency.

Important information to know about absentee voting

If you plan on voting by mail, request an absentee ballot from your county auditor as soon as possible
Once you receive your absentee ballot, follow all of the instructions very carefully
Mail your completed absentee ballot as soon as possible
If it is less than a week before the election, do not risk mailing it. Either return it in person to your county auditor’s office, or vote on Election Day, and bring your absentee ballot materials with you to surrender.
Ballots that are not military/overseas and not received by 8pm on election day will not count
You can track your absentee ballot here: https://bit.ly/4bJEslf

Important information to know on Election Day

You must present a valid ID to vote. This includes
- Iowa driver’s license
- Iowa nonoperator license
- Iowa Voter Identification Card
- US Military or veteran ID
- US Passport
- Employer ID
- Student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college
- Tribal ID Card
If your ID does not have your current address, you must provide proof of residence with a document that has your name and current address, such as a lease, utility bill, paycheck, or tax/bank statement.
If you did not bring a valid form of ID to vote, or you have your eligibility challenged your polling location, you have the right to fill out a provisional ballot, and then return with a valid ID to your polling place before polls close on Election Day, or your county auditor’s office by noon on the Monday after Election Day.
You can register to vote, and vote in a primary election if you are 17 years old as long as you will be 18 on or before election day (November 3rd)
You can find your polling location by going to your county auditor’s website.
As long as you are in line by the time polls close at 8pm you have the right to vote!
Prior to 2026, a voter in your precinct could attest that you are a registered voter in the precinct if you did not have proper identification. However, following the passage and signing of HF2501 this year, that attestation ability has been revoked. If you do not have a valid form of identification, you will have to fill out a provisional ballot.

Information for military/overseas voters

- If you are an active service member, a member of their family, or a citizen residing outside the United States, you can return this form to register to vote and request an absentee ballot: https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf
- Ballot requests can be received by mailed to your county auditor, emailed to uocava@sos.iowa.gov, or faxed.
- You can return completed ballots by mail to your county auditor where you claim Iowa residence. As of now, these ballots can still be counted so long as they are postmarked by the Monday before election day, and received by the county auditor by noon on the Monday after Election Day. However, there is current litigation regarding this, and it could be further restricted.
If you are serving in an imminent danger pay area: https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/IDP-Areas/ you may email or fax your ballot to your county auditor. These must be received by 8pm on Election Day