DAVENPORT, Iowa — The 2024 General Election is just around the corner, taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The race for U.S. president between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris is arguably at the forefront of this year's election, but numerous national, statewide and local elections will also be taking place.
Here is what you should know before heading to the polls.
News 8 will have live election results on Tuesday, Nov. 5 as ballots start to pour in across the Hawkeye state.
What to know ahead of the General Election in Iowa
Who can vote?
To vote in Iowa, you must:
- 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 is Election Day?
The 2024 general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
What time do polls open and close in Iowa?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Can I check if I'm registered?
To check if you're registered, visit the Secretary of State's website here.
I haven’t registered to vote yet: Can I still vote on Nov. 5?
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.
Click here for more information on registering to vote and how to check your voter registration status
How can I get to my polling place?
Back in April, Lyft announced it would offer discounted rides to the polls via its LyftUp Voting Access Program. That means 50% off rideshares, bikes and scooters on for customers on Nov. 5, up to $10.
Uber will also offer 50% off rides on Nov. 5. All users need to do is use the "Go Vote" tile to book a ride. In addition, Uber plans to offer 25% off Uber Eats orders beginning at 6 p.m. on Election Day.
All three of the Quad Cities' main forms of public transportation will be offering no-cost rides on Tuesday, Nov. 5. That includes MetroLINK in Illinois, along with Davenport CitiBus and Bettendorf Transit in Iowa. Find route information for MetroLINK here, Davenport CitiBus here and Bettendorf Transit here.
What do I need to bring to vote in Iowa?
To vote in Iowa, you need to bring a form of identification. 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. 16 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. This application must have been received by your county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 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 healthcare 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. 5.
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.
Federal elections
- President and Vice President
- Kamala Harris/Tim Walz (D)
- Donald Trump/JD Vance (R)
- Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (L)
- Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis (No Party)
- Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia (Party For Socialism and Liberation)
- William Stodden/Stephanie Cholensky (Socialist Party USA)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr./Nichole Shanahan (We The People)
- NOTE: Kennedy has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed former President Donald Trump. However, his name will remain on the Iowa ballot.
- U.S. Representative
- 1st District
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)
- Christina Bohannan (D)
- 2nd District
- Ashley Hinson (R)
- Sarah Corkery (D)
- Jody Madlom Puffett (No Party)
- 3rd District
- Zach Nunn (R)
- Lanon Baccam (D)
- 4th District
- Randy Feenstra (R)
- Ryan Melton (D)
- 1st District
State offices and judicial retention
Ballots will have a state representative race, in which you may select either party's candidate to represent your district in the Iowa House. It also may or may not have a state senator race, depending on your district, where you can elect either party's candidate to represent your district in the Iowa Senate.
Aside from voting for your candidate of choice, Iowans will face two other decisions on whether or not to amend the Iowa constitution. Voters can approve or reject two proposed constitutional amendments: The first amendment (Constitutional Amendment 1) would adjust Iowa's gubernatorial line of succession, while the second (Constitutional Amendment 2) would further clarify who is eligible to vote in Iowa.
On the judicial ballot, voters will have the opportunity to choose whether or not to retain judges, including Supreme Court Justice David May. Justices are appointed by the governor but must undergo retention elections so voters can decide whether or not they can maintain their positions.
What security precautions are in place to protect votes?
Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins says votes are put under lock and key as well as under camera surveillance. The votes are protected until a day before the election where about 60 poll workers begin counting the absentee ballots.
What about locally?
Voters in and around the Iowa Quad Cities will be casting their ballots in a hotly-contested race in Iowa's First Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is facing off with Democrat Christiana Bohannan in a rematch of the 2022 election. Libertarian Nicholas Gluba is also running a write-in campaign after a state panel found that the Iowa Libertarian Party failed to follow state law in deciding their nominee. News 8 sat down with all three candidates ahead of election day. You can find those full conversations below.
To view a sample ballot, visit your county elections or auditor’s website: