NEWS

Early voting began on October 14 - so Iowans have the option to vote early in person or by mail!  You can read more about your options - and questions you can ask your elected officials when they knock your door - in our Fall Newsletter.  Here are a few quick tips:

• Make sure your voter registration is up-to-date. Your registration must have your current name and current address - check it at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections-voting. 

• Decide how you want to vote.  You can vote by mail (but you'll want to act on this quick), in person at your county auditor's office, or at a local satellite voting station (your county auditor has a list).  Talk to your county auditor about these options. 

• Remember these dates - put them in your calendar.
• October 14 - November 2:  Iowans can vote early by mail or in person.
• October 19:  Last day to pre-register to vote & request a mail-in (absentee) ballot.
• October 31: Auditor's offices are open the Saturday before the election for early voting.  Some auditor's offices are also open Saturday, October 24 for early voting - but you'll want to check with yours to check on days and hours open.
• November 3: Election Day! (polls open 7 am - 8 pm) - mail-in ballots must be returned to county auditor's office before polls close at 8 p.m. To find your polling place, go to
  https://sos.iowa.gov/voters/find-my-precinctpolling-place.

• Here are a few commonly asked questions:

• What do I need to bring for my voter ID?
• Iowa Voter Identification Card
• Iowa Driver’s License
• Iowa Non-Operator ID
• U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
• U.S. Passport
• Tribal ID Card/Document
• For more information, go to https://sos.iowa.gov/voters/voter-id-faq

• Where can I find a sample ballot to look at who's running? 
• Go to https://www.voteearlyday.org/vote or visit your county auditor's website.

• Where can I find additional election and voting information?
• Go to the Secretary of State's voter ready website at https://voterready.iowa.gov/.

• Why should I vote early rather than on Election Day?
• If you wait until the last day to vote, things could come up that might prevent you from casting your ballot.  Weather, transportation barriers, illness, family conflicts, travel all can be barriers to voting in Iowa.  But when you vote early, you give yourself the time to plan for anything that might come your way—ensuring that last-minute problems, long lines at the polls, voter disinformation, and confusing election laws cannot get in the way of you making your voice heard.

• How many people vote early?
• During the last presidential election, Americans voted early in record-breaking numbers. Over 100 million people cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, more than the total early votes cast in the 2016 and 2018 elections combined. We have seen early voting increase year after year, and 2026 could be another record-breaking year.

• What happens to my 'early voting' absentee ballot once I cast it?
• You will need to put your absentee (mail-in) ballot into two envelopes and SIGN the outer envelope (unsigned envelopes will not be counted).  Your unopened ballot will be stored securely until Election Day. Votes cast at the auditor's office and mailed in absentee ballots are stored securely in a fireproof ballot storage facility. Votes cast at a satellite voting location are stored in the same tamper-evident ballot boxes used on Election Day. Ballots are collected and returned to the storage facility at the end of each day of satellite voting. 

• Is there a way to track my ballot?
• YES!  Whether you vote early in person or by mail,  you can track the status of your ballot at https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/absentee/search.