Iowa
Population
3,155,070
Voting-Age Pop.
2,312,666
Last Presidential Election (2016)
Important Dates
Election Date
Nov 3, 2020
Registration Deadline
Oct 24, 2020
USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than October 27.
Source: USPS.com
Key Election Information
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Yes
Online Registration
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Early VotingYes
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Same-Day RegistrationYes
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ID RequiredYes
Voter Resources
Register to vote today
Ahead of Election Day, make sure you’re registered to vote and your voting record is up to date. Check out state resources here.
Absentee/Mail-In Voting
Absentee/Mail-In Voting
Registered voters may request an absentee ballot to be sent to them by mail.
Election Rules & Requirements
Early Voting
Can you vote early in this state?
Iowa offers in-person absentee voting. You may cast an absentee ballot in person at your county auditor's office before any election. You must vote your absentee ballot at the auditor's office. You cannot take the ballot home with you. For primary and general elections, absentee ballots will be available no earlier than 29 days (Oct 5) before the election at the county auditors' offices.
Same-Day Registration
Can you register on Election Day?
You may register and vote on Election Day by going to the correct polling place for your current address.
Voter ID Requirements
Is an ID required to vote?
A voter without one of the listed forms of ID may have the voter’s identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents. Voters without the necessary ID or an attester will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for primary and general elections).
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Make sure you're ready on Election Day with the appropriate forms of identification. Acceptable forms of ID are listed here.
Data source - sos.iowa.gov
Federal
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US Passport
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US Military ID or Veteran’s ID
State
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Iowa Driver’s License or Non-operator ID
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Iowa Voter ID Card
Other
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Tribal ID/Document
Additional Voting Resources
Voter eligibility Voting accessibility Military/overseas voting Additional rules & requirementsCovid-19 Voting Resources
Covid-19 Voting
Voting resources regarding Covid-19 are developing.
US Elections FAQ
US Elections, Explained
What you should know about what's happening with the 2020 election and how it all works.
Citizen by CNN
This guide is part of Citizen by CNN, a civic engagement platform that convenes people around issues that matter to them, helping them stay informed and engaged in the political process.
Citizen and the Voter Guide are just one example of the many ways CNN Politics connects you to the tools and resources you need to participate in the 2020 presidential election.