Download a printer-friendly PDF
Here's what you need to know if you're voting in Iowa in 2012:
VOTER ID
Do I need ID to vote?
Maybe. You may be asked to show identification if:
- You registered to vote by mail after Jan. 1, 2003, and have never voted in a primary or general election in your county;
- You have moved from where you are registered to vote;
- Your right to vote has been challenged; or
- The precinct election officials do not know you.
If asked to show identification, you may use a current and valid photo ID or any of the following documents if they show your name and current address:
- Current utility bill (including cell phone bill);
- Current bank statement;
- Current paycheck or government check; or
- Other current government document.
REGISTRATION
Pre-Registration: To pre-register to vote, complete a voter registration form at http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/voteapp.pdf and return it to your county auditor's office. The registration form requires your current and valid Iowa driver's license number or Iowa non-operator ID number. If you do not have an Iowa driver's license/non-operator ID number, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
The pre-registration deadline is 10 days before the general election. Your county auditor will send you a voter registration card within two weeks.
If you are a college student, you may choose to register to vote at your home address or at your college address. You cannot register to vote at both.
Election Day Registration: You may register and vote on Election Day. To do so, you first must go to the correct polling place for your current address on Election Day. If you are unsure of your polling place, go to https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx
At the polling place, you must prove both who you are and where you live. The best way to do this is with your valid Iowa driver's license with your current address printed on it. If you do not have an Iowa driver's license, you may use a photo ID that is current, valid and contains an expiration date. The following are acceptable IDs:
- Iowa non-driver ID card;
- Out-of-state driver's license or non-driver ID card;
- U.S. passport;
- U.S. military ID;
- ID card issued by your employer; or
- Student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college.
Proof of Residence
If your photo ID does not contain your current address, you may use another document to prove where you live if it contains your name and current address. The following are acceptable proofs of residence:
- Residential lease;
- Utility bill (including a cell phone bill);
- Bank statement;
- Paycheck; or
- Government check or other government document.
Attester
If you cannot prove who you are and where you live with the documents listed above, a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. Both you and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true.
ABSENTEE VOTING
Absentee Voting in Person: You may cast an absentee ballot in person at your county auditor's office before any election. You must vote your absentee ballot at the auditor's office. You cannot take the ballot home with you.
For voters who need assistance in marking their ballots, an AutoMARK ballot marking device is available at the county auditor's office.
For primary and general elections, absentee ballots will be available no earlier than 40 days in advance at the county auditors' offices. For all other elections, ballots will be available as soon as they are ready.
In-person absentee voting is not available on Election Day at the auditor's office unless the polls open at noon. If the polls open at noon, you may cast an absentee ballot at the county auditor's office from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Election Day.
Absentee Voting by Mail: Registered voters may request an absentee ballot be sent to them by mail. You must complete an absentee ballot request form at: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/absenteeballotapp.pdf and return it to your county auditor. The request form does not need to be witnessed or notarized.
Someone who will be 18 years old by the date of an upcoming election may request an absentee ballot if he or she is pre-registered to vote.
The request form must be received in the county auditor's office by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election.
If the request is received so late that it is unlikely the absentee ballot can be returned by mail in time to be considered for counting, the county auditor will enclose a statement to that effect with the absentee ballot.
What's the Deadline for Returning an Absentee Ballot?
You can return your voted absentee ballot by mail. The ballot must be postmarked by the Monday before Election Day or earlier and received in the county auditor's office no later than noon on the Monday following the election. For school and some city and special elections, the return deadline may be earlier. Read the instructions sent with the ballot.
Voted absentee ballots cannot be delivered to the polling place on Election Day. If you have not returned your absentee ballot on Election Day, you have the following options:
- Deliver your voted absentee ballot to the county auditor's office before the polls close on Election Day;
- Surrender your voted absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot; or
- Vote a provisional ballot at the polls if you cannot surrender your voted absentee ballot.
For more information about voting, call the Iowa secretary of state at 1-888-SOS-VOTE (1-888-767- 8683) or go to http://sos.iowa.gov/.