Voter Information

The following information was compiled from the website of the Iowa Secretary of State. At the time of writing, this information was accurate. We will work to update this information in a timely manner.

Who May Register To Vote

Before you can vote in Iowa, you must be registered. To register to vote in Iowa, you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Iowa
• be at least 17 – 1/2 years old
  (you must be 18 to vote)
• not have been convicted of a felony
  (unless your rights have been restored)
• not currently be judged “incompetent” to vote by a court
• give up your right to vote in any other place

If you do not meet all these qualifications, you should not register to vote.

Election Day Registration

As of January 1, 2008, Iowa law allows you to register to vote on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct you currently live in. After showing proper identification you may register and vote at the precinct the same day.

Voter Registration Deadline
If you register to vote on Election Day, you will be required to show proof of residence and identity. If you register before the voter registration deadline, you will not be required to show proof of residence and identity. The voter registration deadline is 10 days before general and primary elections and 11 days before all other elections.

Acceptable Forms of ID

If you register to vote at the polls on election Day you will be required to show proof of residence and proof of identity. The best form of ID is a valid Iowa driver’s license with current address. If your Iowa driver’s license has an old address on it, you can use the license as proof of identity and use one of the following as proof of residence if it contains your current address:
• Residential lease
• Property tax statement
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck
• Government check
• Other government document

If you do not have an Iowa driver’s license, you can provide one of the following as proof of identity if it contains your photo:
• An out-of-state driver’s license
• Non-driver identifi cation card
• US passport
• US military ID
• ID card issued by employer
• Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

Another Voter Can Attest for You

If you do not have proof of residence and identity, a registered voter in the precinct may attest to the fact that you are who
you say you are and that you live in the precinct you say you live in. If you have a registered voter in the precinct
attest to your residence and identity, you will both be required to sign an oath. Falsely attesting or being attested for is a class “D” felony.

Provisional Ballot
If you do not have proof of residence or identity and do not have anyone who can attest to your residence and identity you
will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.

Iowa Resident Attending College in Iowa:

If you are an Iowa resident attending college at an Iowa school (i.e. University of Iowa-Johnson County) that is in a different county than your hometown (Des Moines-Polk County), you may register to vote in:

• your hometown or
• your college town

(You cannot register to vote in both locations)

Iowa Resident Attending College Outside Iowa

If you are an Iowa resident (i.e. Council Bluffs) attending college in another state (i.e. University of Nebraska), you may register to vote in:

• your Iowa hometown or
• your college town – subject to the laws of the state you go to college in

(You cannot register to vote in both locations)

Non-Iowa Resident Attending College in Iowa

If you are from another state (i.e. Illinois) and are attending college in Iowa (i.e. Iowa State University), you may register to vote in:

• your Iowa college town or
• your home state (hometown) and vote absentee – subject to the laws of your home state

(You cannot register to vote in both locations)

Absentee Voting

If you are registered to vote in Iowa and attending school in another state, you may request an absentee ballot for an election taking place while you are away at school. You must request an absentee ballot by completing an Official Absentee Ballot Request form and returning it the county auditor for your hometown.

Where to Register in Person

• Office of the County Auditor
• Driver’s license stations
• Public assistance agencies
• State offices serving people with disabilities
• Some city clerks and school board secretaries can register voters.

Where To Get Registration Forms

Voter registration forms, may be distributed by anyone who wants to register others to vote. Forms are available from many sources, including:

• Office of the County Auditor
• Office of the Iowa Secretary of State
• Public libraries
• Political party offices