Voting in Iowa

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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:

See Election administration in Iowa for additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

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

Eligibility and registration details

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. The deadline to register is 15 days prior to the election. Iowans may register online or by completing a form and returning to their county auditor’s office by mail or in person. Registration is permitted on Election Day with proof of identification.[1][2][3]

In-person voting

Poll times

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.[4][5]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

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

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 vouch for 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:[3]

  • 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:[3]

  • 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 attestto their identity will be offered a provisional ballot.[6]

Early voting

See also: Early voting

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

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Iowa. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. To vote absentee, a request application must be received by the county auditor by 5 p.m. at least 15 days 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.[7]


Local election officials

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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

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

On August 5, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds (R) issued an executive order restoring voting rights for people convicted of a felony upon completion of their sentences, including prison time, parole, and probation. 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.[8]

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.[9]


Noteworthy events

June 8, 2021: Governor signs legislation modifying Iowa's absentee/mail-in ballot return laws

On June 8, 2021, Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed SF568, making a series of changes to Iowa's absentee/mail-in voting laws. These include, but are not limited to, the following:[10]

  • Requiring the state election commissioner to create a website "through which a voter can track the voter's absentee ballot request form and absentee ballot" by February 26, 2024.
  • Establishing that "no person other than the registered voter, an individual who lives in the same household as the registered voter, an immediate family member of the registered voter ... or a delivery agent acting on behalf of a registered voter who is unable to return the registered voter's own ballot due to reason of blindness or other disability" can return a completed absentee/mail-in ballot (a delivery agent is defined as "an individual registered to vote in this state who has been designated to return a completed absentee ballot ... by another registered voter who is unable to return the registered voter's own absentee ballot due to reason of blindness or other disability;" an immediate family member is defined as "an individual related to a registered voter within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity").
  • Barring a delivery agent from submitting more than two completed absentee/mail-in ballots per election.

The Iowa State Senate voted 30-17 in favor of the original version of SF568 on March 17. The Iowa House of Representatives voted 54-33 to approve an amended version of SF568 on May 19, 2021. The Senate concurred in the House amendments on May 19, 2021, by a vote of 29-17.[10]

March 8, 2021: Governor signs legislation modifying Iowa's early voting period, Election Day polling hours

On March 8, 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed SF413 into law, making the following modifications to the state's election protocols:[11][5]

  • Reduced the early voting period from 29 to 20 days.
  • Required that polls close at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. for state and federal election.
  • Required that absentee/mail-in ballots be received by the time polls close on Election Day in order to be counted (previously, absentee/mail-in ballots postmarked no later than the day before Election Day were counted if they were received by noon on the Monday following Election Day).
  • Prohibited county auditors from opening satellite early voting sites unless petitioned to do so by county residents.
  • Prohibited county auditors from mailing absentee/mail-in ballot application forms to a voter unless the voter has requested an application.

The bill cleared both chambers of the state legislature on party lines, with all present Republicans voting in favor and all present Democrats voting against it. Jeff Kaufmann, chair of the state Republican Party, supported the legislation, saying, "I applaud Gov. Reynolds and legislative Republicans for showing Iowans that the GOP is listening to their concerns and defending the integrity of our state's election system. While our election systems were already strong, this bill improves upon the work Republicans did in 2017 when they passed Voter ID laws. The 2020 election showed us where shortfalls in our system existed and Iowa Republicans created solutions targeted at fixing those shortfalls." Meanwhile, Ross Wilburn, chair of the state Democratic Party, opposed the bill: "Iowans have always had a proud tradition of participating in the democratic process with accessible and secure elections. Today, Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans have made it more difficult for Iowans, especially seniors and those with disabilities, to be part of this process and have their voices heard."[11][5]

On March 9, 2021, The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa filed suit against Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) and Attorney General Tom Miller (D) in the Polk County District Court, alleging that the aforementioned provisions of SF413 "independently and collectively impose an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote," in violation of the Iowa Constitution.[12]

2019: State judge strikes down absentee ballot verification process

On January 23, 2019, Polk County District Court Judge Karen A. Romano struck down a rule, instituted by Secretary of State Paul Pate (R), requiring local election officials to contact absentee voters directly to obtain information missing from their absentee ballot requests. The rule in question prevented officials from obtaining missing information from Iowa's existing statewide voter database. Pate had argued that this rule constituted the "best means available" (the language used in state statutes) for verifying absentee voters' eligibility. Romano, in her order, said, "The court finds that the secretary's interpretation is erroneous. Forbidding commissioners from using the voter registration system entirely is a direct contradiction of the term 'best means available.'" Pate criticized Romano's ruling and said he intended to appeal her decision to the state supreme court: "Judge Romano's decision puts the integrity and security of Iowa’s elections at risk by making it easier to cheat. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that county auditors obtain information missing from an absentee ballot request form from the source: the requesting voter."[13]

2018: League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa challenges voter ID law

On May 30, 2018, the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa and Taylor Blair, a student at Iowa State University, filed suit in the Iowa District Court for Polk County against Paul Pate (R), in his capacity as secretary of state, alleging that HF 516, legislation that imposed a voter ID requirement and made other changes to state election law, illegally impairs the ability of Iowans to vote. The plaintiffs asked that the court issue a preliminary injunction to block implementation of the law. Joe Enriquez Henry, national vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said, "We clearly see it as an attack on the Latino community placing so many different restrictions on the right to vote. We see this stuff already playing out. It is reducing the number of voters we see within the Latino community who want to vote that are having to face these restrictions and it's just wrong." In a statement, Pate said, "My office has not received any official notification of a lawsuit filed against us. However, based on materials provided to us by the media, I am disappointed at this effort to politicize Iowa's voting process, apparently timed to disrupt the June 5 primary elections. This is a baseless and politically motivated lawsuit, paid for by the Democratic Party's top super PAC."[14][15]

On July 24, 2018, the district court granted the plaintiffs' request for temporary injunctions against several parts of HF 516, including a provision shortening the duration of the absentee voting period from 40 to 29 days. The court also ordered Pate to ensure that all voter education materials addressing voter identification requirements note that identification would not be required in 2018 (though voters could still be asked to present identification).[16]

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Iowa can contact the following state and federal agencies.

Iowa Secretary of State Office:

First Floor, Lucas Building
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Telephone: 515-281-0145
Toll-free: 1-888-767-8683
Fax: 515-281-4682
Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov
http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

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See also

Elections in Iowa


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter Pre-Registration," accessed April 13, 2023
  2. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed April 13, 2023
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Iowa Secretary of State, "Election Day Registration," accessed April 13, 2023
  4. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Find Your Polling Place," accessed April 13, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Iowa Legislature, "SF413," accessed April 13, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "sf413" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "sf413" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "Voter ID FAQ," accessed April 13, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ivid" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State Website, "Absentee Voting by Mail," accessed April 13, 2023
  8. ↑ 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
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Iowa Legislature, "SF568," accessed June 22, 2021
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Des Moines Register, "Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law shortening Iowa's early and Election Day voting," March 8, 2021
  12. ↑ Polk County District Court, "League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa v. Pate: Petition in Law and Equity," March 9, 2021
  13. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Iowa voter ID law: Judge strikes rule on absentee ballots as 'irrational, illogical and wholly unjustifiable,'" January 24, 2019
  14. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Voter ID lawsuit: Civil rights group, ISU student to sue Iowa secretary of state," May 31, 2018
  15. ↑ Office of the Iowa Secretary of State, "Secretary Pate statement on reports of lawsuit filed against HF 516," May 30, 2018
  16. ↑ Iowa District Court for Polk County, "League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa v. Pate: Ruling on Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Injunction," July 24, 2018
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