Voting in Iowa

What's on your ballot?

Find out using Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Tool

* * *

* * *

Election Information
2026 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

* * *

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

* * *

Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubmit

## Contents

* 1 Voter registration
* 1.1 Eligibility and registration details
* 2 In-person voting
* 2.1 Poll times
* 2.2 Voter identification
* 2.3 Early voting
* 3 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 4 Local election officials
* 5 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 6 Contact information
* 6.1 Election agencies
* 7 Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
* 8 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 9 See also
* 9.1 Elections in Iowa
* 10 External links
* 11 Footnotes

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Iowa:

* Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
* In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
* Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
* Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
* Contact information for election agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

## Voter registration[edit]

### Eligibility and registration details[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Iowa, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Iowa, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. A voter that is 17 years old may participate in a primary election if they will be 18 by the time of the next general election. The deadline to register is 15 days prior to the election but registration is permitted on Election Day with proof of identification. Iowans may register online or by completing a form and returning to their county auditor’s office by mail or in person.[1][2]

## In-person voting[edit]

### Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Iowa, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3][4]

### Voter identification[edit]

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Iowa requires voters to present identification while voting. Voters who do not have a valid ID can obtain an Iowa voter ID card for free by mail.[5][6]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Iowa Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“  |

* Iowa Voter Identification Card
* Iowa driver’s license
* Iowa non-operator ID
* U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
* U.S. Passport
* Tribal ID card/document [7]

| ”

|
|

Voters 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:[2]

* Iowa non-operator ID
* 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 if a photo ID does not contain a voter's current address:[2]

* Residential lease
* Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
* Bank statement
* Paycheck
* Government check or other government document
* Property tax statement

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Iowa permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.

## Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Iowa. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. To vote absentee/by-mail, a request application must be received by the county auditor between 70 days before the election and 5 p.m. on the 15th day prior to the election. Voters must include one of the following: Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID number, voter ID/verification number, or the four-digit PIN from their voter ID card. Returned absentee ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day in order to be counted.[8]

## Local election officials[edit]

* * *

Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

|
|

* * *

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

Individuals convicted of a felony regain their right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including prison time, parole, and probation.[9] People convicted of felony homicide do not have their voting rights automatically restored. Instead, they must apply individually for restoration of voting rights by pardon.[9][10]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[11]

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Iowa can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Iowa County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections

Click here for a list

Iowa Secretary of State Office

First Floor, Lucas Building

321 E 12th St

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Phone: 515-281-0145

Toll free: 1-888-767-8683

Fax: 515-281-4682

Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov

Website: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/

Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board

Jessie Parker Building
510 E. 12th St, Suite 1A

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Phone: 515-281-4028

Fax: 515-281-4073

Email: ethicsboard@iowa.gov

Website: https://ethics.iowa.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

## Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]

* Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.

Search bills

* Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Read the latest report

Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.

The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Subscribe

## Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2025 election coverage:

U.S. Congress special elections

Governors

Attorney general

Other state executives

State legislatures

State ballot measures

Local ballot measures

State judges

Local judges

Municipal government

School boards

Recall

Democratic primaries 2026

* United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026

Republican primaries 2026

* United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
* Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Republican primaries, 2026

## See also[edit]

* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Voter ID in Iowa
* Election administration in Iowa
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Iowa

### Elections in Iowa[edit]

* Iowa elections, 2026
* Iowa elections, 2025
* Iowa elections, 2024
* Iowa elections, 2023
* Iowa elections, 2022
* Iowa elections, 2021
* Iowa elections, 2020

* Iowa elections, 2019
* Iowa elections, 2018
* Iowa elections, 2017
* Iowa elections, 2016
* Iowa elections, 2015
* Iowa elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Official state election website
* U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed July 21, 2025
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Iowa Secretary of State, "Election Day Registration," accessed October 6, 2025
3. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Find Your Polling Place," accessed July 21, 2025
4. ↑ The Iowa Legislature, "I.C.A. § 49.74," accessed July 21, 2025
5. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter ID FAQ," accessed October 6, 2025
6. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Iowa Voter Identification Requirements," accessed October 6, 2025
7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
8. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 21, 2025
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Office of the Governor of Iowa, "Gov. Reynolds signs Executive Order to restore voting rights of felons who have completed their sentence," August 5, 2020
10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons," accessed July 21, 2025
11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023

Election information

Resources

Sample Ballot Lookup • Elections calendar • State poll opening and closing times • Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • Elections by state and year • State voter ID laws • Absentee voting • Early voting • Online voter registration • Election result canvassing • Where do I vote • List of absentee/mail-in ballot request websites by state • List of official voter registration websites by state • State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Elections
by state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

2026 elections

U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2025 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2024 elections

U.S. President • U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2023 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2022 elections

U.S. Congress • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2021 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

How to vote
in each state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • Washington, D.C. • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

v • e

State of Iowa
Des Moines (capital)

|

Elections |

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government |

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy