IOWA, USA — Polls are now open across Iowa. From city officials to school board members, there are plenty of people on the ballot.
If you are planning to vote in Iowa, here are ways to register to vote, a guide to checking your voter registration status, a rundown of the races and more ways to get up to speed before you hit the polls.
Who can vote?
Be a U.S. citizen.
Be a resident of Iowa.
Be at least 17 years old – a person who will be 18 on or before the general election can vote in the corresponding primary.
Not been convicted of a felony unless you have had your rights restored.
Not currently be judged by a court to be “incompetent to vote.”
Not vote in more than one place.
When are the polls open?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Where do I vote?
Make sure you know your polling place before you head out the door on Nov. 7. After redistricting last year, your polling place may be different than you remember.
Use this tool from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place based on your zip code.
How do I register to vote?
If you are not sure about your voter registration, you can check your status with the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
Iowans can register to vote online or by sending a voter registration form to their county auditor.
I haven’t registered to vote yet: Can I still vote on Nov. 7?
Yes, Iowa offers same-day voter registration.
Register to vote at your polling place by bringing proof of ID and proof of residence. If your current address is different than what’s listed on your ID, you can bring in a paper or electronic document that was issued in the past 45 days and has your name and current address.
What form of ID do I need?
Valid forms of ID include:
Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID
U.S. passport
U.S. military ID or veteran’s ID
Tribal ID/document
Iowa voter ID card
What if I don’t have an ID?
If you are registered to vote but do not have a Voter ID, you will automatically be mailed a Voter ID card for free, according to the Secretary of State.
How does early voting work?
Wednesday, Oct. 18 marked the first day in-person, absentee ballots were available.
Voters can cast an absentee ballot in person at their county auditor's office, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's office
Can I vote by mail in Iowa?
First, voters must complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the county auditor. The deadline for the form to be received by your county auditor was 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, or 15 days before the election.
After receiving a request form, the county auditor will mail the voter an absentee ballot, along with instructions on how to mark and return the ballot.
Return your absentee ballot by mail. Ballots received by the county auditor before 8 p.m. on Election Day are eligible for counting.
I forgot to mail my absentee ballot. What do I do?
If you have not mailed your ballot to your county auditor’s office, you can deliver it in person to that office. You cannot cast an absentee ballot at your normal polling place.
The only people who can return a voted absentee ballot other than the voter are:
- an immediate family member
- someone living in the voter's household
- a caretaker
- precinct officials who deliver the ballot to residents at health care facilities
In some cases, a "delivery agent" may be approved for voters with disabilities.
Absentee ballots returned in person must be submitted before polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 7.
If you mess up on your absentee ballot before turning it in or decide to vote in person, you can simply surrender that ballot at your polling place and vote in person. If you don't turn it in before Election Day, you can also cancel your absentee ballot at your polling place.
But if you have already mailed it in or dropped it off, you cannot vote again.
Who is on the ballot?
Since 2023 is an off-year election year, ballots will vary based on your city and county.
To view a sample ballot, visit your county elections or auditor’s website:
In Des Moines, Iowa's largest city, the following elections will take place this November:
- Mayor
- Connie Boesen
- Josh Mandelbaum
- Christopher William Von Arx
- Denver Foote
- Des Moines City Council
- Ward 1 - To fill a vacancy
- Chris Coleman
- RJ Miller
- Rose Marie Smith
- Kathy Hellstern
- Dennis McCullough
- Rob X. Barron
- Ward 2
- Chelsea Lepley
- Linda Westergaard
- Ward 4
- Joe Gatto
- Justin Torres
- Jason Benell
- At-large
- Carl Voss
- AJ Drew
- Ward 1 - To fill a vacancy
- Des Moines School Board
- District 1
- Kim Martorano
- District 3
- Anna Maria Campos
- Victoria Henderson Weber
- At-large
- Logan Villhauer
- Patrick Dix
- District 1