2026 election

Voting in Iowa

Primary

Held

Tuesday, June 2

Early voting

May 13th – June 1st

General

Tuesday, November 3

Early voting

October 14 – November 2

Register online by: October 19, 11:59pm
Register by mail by: October 19
Register in person by: November 2
Request a mail ballot by: October 19, 5pm
Mailed ballot must arrive by: November 3, 8pm

See every race and candidate on your Iowa ballot, and where each one stands, before you vote.

Plan your ballot →

How to cast your ballot

By mail

Any registered voter may vote by mail — no reason needed.

Request a ballot Track your ballot The rules Where to drop it off

In person

Polls open on election day: 7am – 7pm
Or vote early: In the windows shown above

What counts as ID

You will need to show ID to vote in person. Acceptable forms include:

Iowa driver’s license (not expired more than 90 days)
Iowa non-operator ID (not expired more than 90 days)
Current unexpired US Passport
Valid US military or veteran ID
Signed Iowa Voter ID Card
Valid Tribal ID card/document with signature and photo

You may also use Election Day Registration documents to provide your identity and residence.

If you are registering to vote after the pre-registration deadline or at your voting location on Election Day, you must provide a current and valid photo ID. Approved forms of identification for Election Day Registration include the items listed above, excluding the Iowa Voter ID Card. Additional acceptable forms of ID are:

Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
Employer-issued ID
Student ID issued by an Iowa high school or college

If your ID does not contain your current address, you may use another document (paper or electronic) to prove where you live. Proof of residence documents must contain your name and address and be issued within 45 days of registration. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:

Residential lease
Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
Bank statement
Paycheck
Government check or other government document
Property tax statement

Voters without ID: If you do not have one of the listed forms of identification, another registered voter in your precinct may attest for you to prove your identity and residence. If you do not have the necessary ID or an attester, you will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (12 p.m. the Monday after Election Day for Primary and General Elections).

Find your polling place Early voting

Before you can vote

Registering

Ways to register:

Online
By mail
At the polls on election day

Iowa lets you pre-register from age 17, so you are on the roll the moment you turn 18.

Who can register, and what you need

To register in Iowa you must:

be a United States citizen
be an Iowa resident
be at least 17 years old (you may register to vote if you are at least 17 years old. You may vote if you will be 18 years old on or before Election Day. You may vote in a primary election if you are at least 17 years old and you will be at least 18 years old by the corresponding regular election.)
not have been convicted of a felony (unless your voting rights have been restored)
not currently be judged by a court to be "incompetent to vote"
not claim the right to vote in more than one place

Check if you are registered Register

Which primary can you vote in?

You are required to register with a party to participate in Iowa partisan primary elections. You should register with the party whose primary you would like to vote in. If you choose not to register with a party, you may declare a party affiliation when you vote.

Also on the calendar

Local elections in parts of Iowa. Only voters in the place named take part.

September 8 Ankeny

Also voted on June 2: California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota.

Dates, deadlines and rules come from DemocracyWorks, last refreshed August 27, 2026; poll hours from our own election guide. Rules change — check with your election office before you rely on a date.