Iowa

In order to vote in the November 4, 2008 election, your registration must be postmarked or dropped off no later than October 25, 2008, or you can register on Election Day.

Click here to register to vote.
Click here for more information.
Click for complete student voting guidelines.
Click for complete felon voting guidelines.

You may register to vote on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct where you currently live. If you register to vote on Election Day, you will be required to show proof of residency and 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 identify IF it contains your photo:

• An out-of-state driver’s license
  
• Non-driver identification card
  
• US passport
  
• US Military ID
  
• ID card issued by employer
  
• Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

All forms of photo ID must be current, valid, and contain an expiration date.

For details, please see Iowa’s Election Day Guide. (PDF)

EARLY VOTING

Early voting is available in Iowa beginning 40 days before an election. Early voting is completed in the county auditor's office. Voters cannot take the ballot home. The county auditors’ offices are open on the two Saturdays directly preceding all Primary and General elections.

Some county auditors use satellite absentee voting stations to provide absentee voting at places other than the auditor’s office. To find out if there is one near you, contact your county auditor’s office.

The auditor is not required to set up satellite stations. Voters may request satellite absentee voting stations by filing petitions with the county auditor. To find out whether satellite stations are planned for any election, contact your county auditor.

If you need to submit an absentee ballot, please visit Long Distance Voter.
If you are living overseas, click here.

Find Your Polling Location

WHAT TO BRING:

If you register to vote before the voter registration deadline, you will not be required to show proof of residence and identity.

If you register to vote on Election Day, you will be required to show proof of residence and identify. See above section on Voter Registration for details, or click here.

WHAT TO EXPECT

In addition to the presidential election, there are a number of other races happening in Iowa, including Congressional races for the U.S. House of Representatives.

For more voting information, please visit the Iowa Secretary of State.