Election day is 28 days away. Here’s a catch-all guide to know everything about early voting and how to register in Iowa:
Registering to vote
The deadline to register to vote in Iowa is Oct. 21. However, the state offers same-day voter registration on election day. Registering takes about five minutes on the Iowa DOT website, where questions include date of birth, address, party affiliation and ID. Valid forms of ID include:
- Iowa Voter Identification Card
- Iowa Driver’s License
- Iowa Non-Operator ID
- U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
- U.S. Passport
- Tribal ID Card/Document
Those registering must be a U.S. citizen, an Iowa resident and 18 years old on or before election day.
To update voter registration information like name, address or party affiliation, submit a new voter registration.
To ensure registration status, check the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. This includes details like current registration information, precinct location and address to prepare voters for election day.
Absentee ballots and in-person early voting
Early in-person voting for Story County begins from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16 and runs through Nov. 4 at the Administration Building, 900 6th St., Nevada. Voting will also be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. Satellite voting options are also available at other locations.
Iowa voters can request an absentee ballot by filling out a form and mailing it to their county auditor. The request must be received by 5 p.m. at least 15 days before the election.
Absentee ballots must be returned to the county auditor by mail, ensuring it arrives before election day, or in person before 8 p.m. Nov. 5. A voter’s absentee ballot is allowed to be transported by close family members or someone within the same household.
It is vital that the ballot is completed following the instructions included with it and returned in the provided envelope to be counted.
For more information, check out the Iowa Secretary of State FAQ.