FAQ: Here's what you need to know for Election Day in Iowa

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register
Updated ·7 min read

Have questions about voting early or on Election Day? We've got you covered with this voter guide.

Polls will be open Nov. 7 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and you can find your precinct and polling place on the Secretary of State's website.

"City and school elected officials play a critical role in our day-to-day lives, so it’s vitally important for Iowans to make their voices heard in November’s elections,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a news release.

Early and absentee voting began Oct. 18. Absentee ballots must be received by the time the polls close on Election Day at 8 p.m. to be eligible for counting.

More: Election Day in Iowa is approaching. Your guide on Des Moines metro candidates, issues

How do I register to vote/what if I'm not registered yet in Iowa?

It's too late to pre-register before the Nov. 7 election, but Iowans still can register at the polls on Election Day. Bring proof of identity and residency, like a utility bill, paycheck or lease.

To register to vote in Iowa, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen

  • Be an Iowa resident

  • Be at least 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 on or before Election Day

  • Not be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court

  • Not claim the right to vote in any other place

Iowans can check whether they are registered to vote in Iowa by going to the Iowa Secretary of State's website, sos.iowa.gov.

Who is running for mayor, city councils and school boards in the Des Moines metro?

More: Who is running for Des Moines City Council, mayor? A look at the 2023 election candidates

More: Who is running for Des Moines suburban city councils, mayor in the 2023 election

More: Who is running for Des Moines School Board? A look at the 2023 candidates

More: Des Moines suburban school boards gear up for elections on Nov. 7. Here's who is running:

How do I find my polling place in Iowa?

You can find your precinct and polling place on the Secretary of State's website. Enter your ZIP code and address for more information.

When are polls open in Iowa?

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Do I have to show ID to vote in Iowa?

Registered Iowa voters must bring ID with them when they go to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of identification are an Iowa driver's license or a non-operator ID, a U.S. passport or military ID, a veteran's ID, tribal ID or an Iowa voter ID card.

In some instances, Iowans voting at the polls may need to prove their residencies as well. They can do this by bringing proof of residency if they are either voting in Iowa for the first time or if they've recently moved within the same county and have not updated their address with the auditor. If they have moved to a different county between elections, they will need to complete the Election Day registration process at their precincts.

If someone can't prove their identity with any of those documents, a registered voter in their precinct can attest to who the voter is. Both the voter and the attester will need to sign an oath.

Can people who have been convicted of felonies vote in Iowa?

In 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring voting rights to most people with felony convictions once they have completed their sentences, including any parole or probation.

Before the executive order, Iowa had been the last state in the nation to ban all people with felony convictions from voting, even after the completion of their sentences, unless they applied individually to the governor’s office to have their rights restored.

The executive order does not apply to those convicted of homicide offenses or certain serious sex offenses that carry a lifetime special sentence of supervision. Those people can still apply directly to the governor to have their rights restored.

What if I run into problems voting in Iowa?

The Des Moines Register will track any issues at polling places on Election Day Nov. 7.

Report any problems to the Reader's Watchdog Lee Rood at lrood@dmreg.com and she will follow up.

Anyone who is concerned about potential election misconduct also should report it to their local law enforcement agency. Iowa Code Chapter 39A spells out what could be considered misconduct under Iowa law.

If you have questions, contact your local county auditor or the Iowa Secretary of State.

How do I know what's on my ballot in Des Moines?

The Polk County Auditor's Office has sample ballots posted on its website by precinct and polling place. First find your precinct and polling place on the Secretary of State's website, then scroll to find the proper ballot on Polk County's site.

Dallas County also has sample ballots on its website.

Where can I find election results for the Des Moines metro on Election Day?

Watch desmoinesregister.com for central Iowa election results as they come in Nov. 7.

How do I get an absentee ballot in Iowa?

The absentee ballot request deadline was Oct. 23.

In order to receive an absentee ballot, a registered voter must have:

  • Iowa residential address

  • Voter verification number (ID number)

  • Iowa driver's license, non-operator ID number or a voter PIN located on their Iowa voter ID card

    • Voters may request an Iowa voter ID card by contacting their county auditor's office

  • The name or date of the election for which they are requesting an absentee ballot

How can I check on the status of my absentee ballot?

Iowans can track the status of their absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's website at sos.iowa.gov/elections/AbsenteeBallotStatus by entering their full name and date of birth.

Voters can return an absentee ballot through the mail, at a ballot drop box or by bringing the ballot to their county auditor's office in person.

Only the voter, an immediate family member or household member may return the ballot to the auditor's office or place it in the mail. There are exceptions for those with blindness or another disability; those voters may designate another registered voter as a "delivery agent" to return their ballot.

When do mail-in ballots need to be received?

Absentee ballots must be received in the county auditor's office by the time the polls close on Election Day at 8 p.m. to be eligible for counting.

Absentee ballots cannot be delivered to a polling place on Election Day. If you have not returned your absentee ballot on Election Day, you have the following options:

  • Deliver your voter absentee ballot to the county auditor's office before the polls close on Election Day.

  • Surrender your absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot.

  • Vote a provisional ballot at the polls if you cannot surrender your voted absentee ballot.

Where can I vote early in-person in Polk County, Dallas County?

Polk County voters can vote in-person at the Election Office, 120 Second Ave. in Des Moines, during regular office hours.

Satellite voting stations in Polk County by date:

  • Grimes Library, 200 N. James St.: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 23. Precincts available: All city of Grimes ballot styles will be available.

  • West Des Moines Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24. Precincts available: All city of West Des Moines ballot styles will be available.

  • Urbandale Library, 3520 86th St.: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25. Precincts available: All city of Urbandale ballot styles will be available.

  • Northwest Community Center 5110 Franklin Ave. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. Precincts available: All Des Moines Ward 1 ballot styles will be available.

  • Johnston Library, 6700 Merle Hay Road, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27. Precincts available: All city of Johnston ballot styles will be available.

  • Park Fair Mall, 100 E. Euclid Ave. No. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Precincts available: All Des Moines Ward 1 ballot styles will be available.

The Dallas County Auditor's Office is open for in-person voting during regular office hours at 210 N. 10th St. in Adel.

Satellite locations and times include:

Waukee School Administration Building, 560 S.E. University Ave., in Waukee

  • Oct. 18, 1-7 p.m.

  • Oct. 19, 1-7 p.m.

Van Meter Community School, 520 First Ave., in Van Meter

  • Oct. 20, 1-7 p.m.

Voters in other counties should check with their auditor's office to find out more about in-person early voting.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What to know for Election Day and city, school elections in Iowa