Voter Registration

• Voter Registration Information
• Election Day Registration
• Updating Registration Information
• Restoration of Rights

• Voter Registration Form    


• Federal Voting Assistance Program - Military and Overseas

Completed voter registration forms should be returned to the county auditor's office in the county where the voter lives.

In the state of Iowa, you must be a registered voter before you can vote. To pre-register to vote, print off a copy of the voter registration form and return it to your county auditor's office.

You may fill out the form yourself or ask someone to help you fill it out. You have the right to complete the form in private.

You must sign the form. If you are not physically able to sign the form, you can use a rubber stamp or mark you use regularly. You may also have assistance in signing the form.

Voter pre-registration deadlines:

• 10 days before General and Primary elections



• 11 days before all other elections

When you pre-register, your name appears on the election register at your polling place. This allows you to sign in quickly when you arrive on Election Day.

If you were not able to pre-register to vote, you may register to vote on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct where you currently live. More information on Election Day Registration >>>

To register to vote in Iowa, you must be qualified.

Qualified voters in Iowa are:

• Citizens of the United States

• Residents of Iowa

• At least 17 ½ years old (must be 18 years old by Election Day to vote. This includes the Primary election.)

Qualified voters in Iowa are not:

• Convicted felons (unless the felon's voting rights have been restored by the president or governor, see Restoration of Rights)

• Currently judged incompetent to vote by a court

• Claiming the right to vote in any other place

If you do not meet all these qualifications, you cannot register to vote.

Voter registration forms are also available at:

• Iowa Secretary of State's Office

• county auditors' offices

• Public assistance agencies

• Public libraries

• Political party offices.

Voters can also register in person at:

• Iowa Secretary of State's Office

• county auditors' offices

• Driver's license stations

• Public assistance agencies

• State offices serving people with disabilities

• Some city clerks' offices and school board secretaries' offices

Your county auditor's office will send you a voter registration card. The card will list the polling place for the precinct in which you are registered. If you do not receive a voter registration card two weeks after you turn in your voter registration form, contact your county auditor.

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If you were not able to pre-register to vote, you can register and vote on Election Day. To do so, you must go to the correct polling place for your current address on Election Day. To find the polling place for your current address, click here: Find Your Precinct/Polling Place. You will need to show proper identification.

To register on Election Day, you must prove both:

1. Who you are
2. Where you live

The best form of ID is a valid Iowa driver's license with your current address printed on it. If your Iowa driver's license does not list your current address, you must use one of the items under proof of residence to prove where you live. Do NOT register at the old address listed on your ID.

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

Proof of Identity

If you do not have an Iowa's driver license, you can provide one of the following to prove who you are:

• Iowa non-driver identification card
• Out-of-state driver's license or non-driver identification card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID
• ID card issued by your employer
• Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

Proof of identity must contain your photo and an expiration date.

If the photo ID presented does not show your current address, you may still use it to prove who you are but you must use something else to prove where you live. You may use one of the documents listed below as proof of where you live.

Proof of Residence

You can use one of the following to prove where you live:

• Residential lease
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck
• Government check
• Cell phone bill
• Other government document

Proof of residence must contain your name and current address.

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.

Iowa law allows a registered voter to attest for ONE person per election. Voters who registered to vote on Election Day can attest for someone else as long as the voters were not attested for themselves.

Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud. It is a class "D" felony and is punishable by a fine of up to $7,500 and up to 5 years in prison. Registration fraud also includes:

• Registering/being registered to vote at an address where you do not live
• Registering to vote when you are not eligible to do so
• Registering to vote at more than one address

If you do not have proper identification and do not have anyone who can attest for you, you will still be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. You can take your proof of who you are and where you live to your county auditor's office after Election Day.

After the election, all voters who register to vote on Election Day will be sent a notice by mail. The first notice will not be forwarded to another address. If this notice is returned as undeliverable, a second notice that is forwardable will be mailed to the voter. The voter must return the notice to the county auditor within 14 days. If the notice is not returned, the county attorney and Secretary of State's Office will be given the voter's information for investigation and prosecution.

Election Day Registration Materials

Election Day Registration Guide  

This guide was created when Election Day Registration was enacted. It explains the Election Day Registration process. Copies of the guide are available at the Secretary of State's Office.

Election Day Registration Training Video (8:31)  low  high

This training video was created for auditors to use as training material. While it is directed at them, the video also provides useful information for voters. It illustrates what voters should expect at their polling place on Election Day if they choose to register and vote on Election Day.

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You must update your voter registration if you:

• Change your name
• Change your address
• Wish to change your political party affiliation

If you move within the same precinct where you are currently registered to vote, you have the following options:

1. Write to your county auditor to report a change of address. The easiest way to do so is to complete a voter registration form.



2. Report a change of change of address at the polls on Election Day.

If you move within the county where you are registered to vote but your new address is in a new precinct, you have the following options:

1. Write to your county auditor to report a change of address. The easiest way to do so is to complete a voter registration form.



2. Report a change of address at the polls on Election Day. Go to the polling place for the precinct where you now live. Do not go to your old polling place because you are no longer qualified to vote there.

If you are unsure of the location of your new polling place, Find Your Precinct/Polling Place.

When you report an address change at your new polling place, you will be asked to show ID. Acceptable forms of identification for this purpose only are:

• Current and valid photo ID (driver's license, non-driver's ID card or a student ID card)



• Current utility bill showing name and current address in the precinct



• Current bank statement, paycheck, or government check showing name and current address in the precinct



• Other current government document showing the name and current address in the precinct

If you move to a different county in Iowa, you must register to vote again. You have the following options:

1. Complete a voter registration form and mail it to your county auditor.



2. On Election Day, register and vote at the polling place for the precinct where you now reside.

If you are unsure of the location of your new polling place, Find Your Precinct/Polling Place.

If you are unsure if you are registered to vote in Iowa, click here: Am I Registered to Vote in Iowa?

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In Iowa, a person's voter registration is cancelled if the person is convicted of a felony. Voting rights can be restored after completion of the sentence and any required probation or parole.

The Governor's Office is responsible for the restoration of voting rights. For more information, visit Restoration of Rights Information on the Governor's website or call (515) 281-5211.

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