The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office is dedicated to serving Iowans in all 99 counties. From administering safe and secure elections to serving as Iowa’s business portal, the office of the Iowa Secretary of State is guided by three core principles: service, participation, and integrity.
Select the boxes below to learn more about each division.
The Iowa Secretary of State is the state commissioner of elections and supervises the administration of election laws and administrative rules. The office works directly with all 99 county auditors and local election officials to ensure the integrity of Iowa elections. The division administers the statewide voter registration system, trains election officials, and provides voter registration and education services. Candidates for all statewide offices, federal offices, legislative offices, and certain judicial offices file their nomination petitions with the Iowa Secretary of State.
Learn more about elections in Iowa.
Learn more about elections in Iowa.
This division is a service center for businesses across the state of Iowa. It receives registration filings and other public documents for business and nonprofit entities doing business in Iowa. The division also receives documents related to Uniform Commercial Code and mechanic's liens, issues notary public commissions, and processes thousands of corporate and commercial documents. The office is dedicated to making government more business friendly. In 2018, the Fast Track Filing system was launched, providing Iowa's business community with instantaneous, 24-7 service and streamlined processes.
Learn more about Iowa's Business Services Center.
Learn more about Iowa's Business Services Center.
Iowa Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program that provides participants with a legal substitute address. Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking, assault, and other violent crimes can apply for Safe at Home. This program helps survivors improve their lives and prevent participant addresses from appearing on public records. Participants receive a substitute address, mail forwarding services, and confidential voter registration and absentee voting.
Learn more about Safe at Home.
Learn more about Safe at Home.
Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking
Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) is a statewide recognition and education program from the Iowa Secretary of State's office, empowering businesses to help in the fight to end human trafficking through trainings and outreach opportunities. Join today and help make Iowa a trafficking-free state. Membership in IBAT is open to any business or nonprofit organization that operates in the State of Iowa and shares a commitment to taking steps to promote awareness of human trafficking and the Iowa Safe at Home program, an address confidentiality program for survivors of human trafficking and other violent crimes administered by the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
Programs
Youth Initiatives
As part of the office’s efforts to increase voter education, registration, and participation, the office administers a number of civic engagement programs, including:
Carrie Chapman Catt Award
The Carrie Chapman Catt Award is a voter registration initiative tailored for Iowa high schools. Schools that register at least 90% of eligible seniors earn the prestigious award, named for Iowan suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt. Schools reaching 50% and 70% registration also receive statewide recognition. The program supports schools with resources to conduct two successful voter registration drives and comply with Iowa Code §48A.23.
Elections 101
Elections 101 is an elections curriculum created by Iowa teachers, for Iowa teachers. Developed by the Secretary of State’s office, it encourages discussion and active student participation while highlighting Iowa’s unique role in the political process. A key component is the Youth Straw Poll, open to all grade levels, K–12, giving students hands-on, age-appropriate experience with voting and civic engagement.
John Lewis Youth Leadership Award
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award honors young individuals or groups for outstanding community contributions and civic leadership. Established in memory of Congressman John Lewis, the award reflects his lifelong commitment to voting rights and youth engagement in democracy. Each year, Secretaries of State across the nation may recognize up to two recipients, inspiring young people to lead, serve, and make a meaningful impact.
Internships
The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State offers internship opportunities in communications, legal, marketing, and projects expertise tailored for college students. These internships provide compensation, offer flexibility in duration, and accommodate schedules during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Moreover, many educational institutions provide course credit for internship completion.
Veterans Initiatives
As part of the office’s efforts to serve veterans and connect them with available resources and services, the office administers the following veteran program:
Veterans for Voting
Veterans for Voting is a statewide initiative that helps ensure veterans can fully participate in elections. The program provides information on voter registration, early and curbside voting, and getting to the polls. It also encourages veterans to serve as poll workers or assist fellow veterans, honoring their service through civic engagement. Honor a Veteran is a component of the program and allows individuals to recognize a veteran in their life with lapel pins, one for the veteran and one for themselves, to wear on Election Day as a symbol of gratitude and pride.
Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) is a statewide recognition and education program from the Iowa Secretary of State's office, empowering businesses to help in the fight to end human trafficking through trainings and outreach opportunities. Join today and help make Iowa a trafficking-free state. Membership in IBAT is open to any business or nonprofit organization that operates in the State of Iowa and shares a commitment to taking steps to promote awareness of human trafficking and the Iowa Safe at Home program, an address confidentiality program for survivors of human trafficking and other violent crimes administered by the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
Programs
Youth Initiatives
As part of the office’s efforts to increase voter education, registration, and participation, the office administers a number of civic engagement programs, including:
Carrie Chapman Catt Award
The Carrie Chapman Catt Award is a voter registration initiative tailored for Iowa high schools. Schools that register at least 90% of eligible seniors earn the prestigious award, named for Iowan suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt. Schools reaching 50% and 70% registration also receive statewide recognition. The program supports schools with resources to conduct two successful voter registration drives and comply with Iowa Code §48A.23.
Elections 101
Elections 101 is an elections curriculum created by Iowa teachers, for Iowa teachers. Developed by the Secretary of State’s office, it encourages discussion and active student participation while highlighting Iowa’s unique role in the political process. A key component is the Youth Straw Poll, open to all grade levels, K–12, giving students hands-on, age-appropriate experience with voting and civic engagement.
John Lewis Youth Leadership Award
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award honors young individuals or groups for outstanding community contributions and civic leadership. Established in memory of Congressman John Lewis, the award reflects his lifelong commitment to voting rights and youth engagement in democracy. Each year, Secretaries of State across the nation may recognize up to two recipients, inspiring young people to lead, serve, and make a meaningful impact.
Internships
The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State offers internship opportunities in communications, legal, marketing, and projects expertise tailored for college students. These internships provide compensation, offer flexibility in duration, and accommodate schedules during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Moreover, many educational institutions provide course credit for internship completion.
Veterans Initiatives
As part of the office’s efforts to serve veterans and connect them with available resources and services, the office administers the following veteran program:
Veterans for Voting
Veterans for Voting is a statewide initiative that helps ensure veterans can fully participate in elections. The program provides information on voter registration, early and curbside voting, and getting to the polls. It also encourages veterans to serve as poll workers or assist fellow veterans, honoring their service through civic engagement. Honor a Veteran is a component of the program and allows individuals to recognize a veteran in their life with lapel pins, one for the veteran and one for themselves, to wear on Election Day as a symbol of gratitude and pride.