Frequently Asked Questions
Voter Registration
What are Iowa’s eligibility requirements for voter registration and voting purposes?
To register and vote in Iowa, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen,
- An Iowa resident,
- At least 17 1/2 years old (must be 18 years old by election day to vote).
You cannot:
- Be a convicted felon (unless your voting rights have been restored),
- Be judged mentally incompetent to vote by court,
- Claim the right to vote in any other place.
How do I determine my residence for voting purposes?
Your residence for voting purposes is where your home is located. You can only declare one residence for voting purposes.
If you are temporarily away from your home, you do not lose residency for voting purposes.
Citizens may register and vote in Iowa if they or their parents were eligible electors of Iowa just before leaving the U.S. This includes citizens who were not old enough to register to vote at the time they left the country. The last residence in Iowa should be used for voter registration purposes in this instance.
Why do I need to provide an exact address for voting purposes?
Your local county auditor needs an exact residence address in order to determine for which offices and public measures you are eligible to vote. Listing only a post office box does not qualify as providing an exact address.
If I have moved, how do I update my residential or mailing address?
To update your residential or mailing address, complete a new federal postcard application (FPCA).
- Voter registration
- Absentee ballot request
- Change of address
- Confirmation of current mailing address
- Change of political party affiliation
Voter Identification
Do I need to provide identification to register to vote or request a ballot?
Please provide on the federal postcard application (FPCA) your:
- Iowa driver’s license number,
- Iowa non-operator ID, or
- The last four digits of your Social Security number.
However, ID verification requirements are waived for military and overseas voters if you do not have the ID numbers listed above.
Deadlines
What is the deadline for voter registration?
Voter pre-registration deadline do not apply to military and overseas voters.
What is the deadline to request an absentee ballot
To receive your absentee ballot by mail, your request must be received in the county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. Friday before the election.
Request your ballot early to ensure you receive your ballot early enough for you to return it on time. If you are unsure if you will receive your ballot on time, you may request the county auditor to email or fax your ballot to you.
To receive your absentee ballot by email or fax, your request must be received in the county auditor’s office by the close of business Monday before the election.
If the request is received so late that 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 is the return deadline for a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)?
For more information on voting a federal write-in ballot (FWAB), see our section on Absentee Voting Alternatives.
Absentee Voting
When are absentee ballots available?
Absentee ballots are available no later than 45 days before primary and general elections. Ballots for local elections will be available as soon as possible before the election.
Do I need to complete an federal postcard application (FPCA) or absentee ballot request for each individual election?
Unless you ask for all elections or indicate specific elections, the FPCA is honored for only the federal election(s) held during the calendar year in which you submitted your FPCA.
What if I move after I requested a ballot but before I receive it?
Absentee ballots are not forwardable by mail. You should contact county auditor as soon as possible after you have moved and provide them with your new address. The county auditor will mail you a ballot at your new address.
What is a federal write-in absentee ballot (FWAB)?
For more information on voting a federal write-in ballot (FWAB), see our section on Absentee Voting Alternatives.
Primaries
What is the primary election?
The primary election is a nomination process used for the Democratic and Republican parties. Candidates selected by voters at the primary election advance to the general election ballot.
When is Iowa's primary election held?
Iowa’s primary election is held in June of each even-numbered year. The 2012 primary election is June 5, 2012.
For more information the 2012 primary election, see our 2012 Primary Election page.
The corresponding general election is held in November of each even-numbered year.
Do I have to be registered with a political party to vote in the primary election?
Yes. Iowa has a closed primary election, which means voters must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party to participate. Voters can change their party affiliation anytime before election day or at the polling place on election day.
To change your party affiliation, you can complete a new federal postcard application (FPCA).