Iowa voting guide
Open the election authority’s current instructions
Iowa · November 3, 2026
In-person registration remains available through Election Day; location, identification and ballot rules apply. OFF-IA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
| Registration route | Date | Rule | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Oct 19 | OFF-IA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG | |
| Oct 19 | postmarked | OFF-IA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG | |
| In person | Nov 3 | OFF-IA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG |
| Voting task | Date or window | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Mailed ballot request | Oct 19 | The application must reach the election authority by this date. BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL |
| In-person early/absentee route | Oct 14–Nov 2 | In-person absentee voting begins October 14 and ordinarily ends November 2. The application to have a ballot mailed was due October 19. BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY |
| Ballot return | Method-specific rule | The election authority must have the ballot by 8 p.m. on Nov 3; an Election Day postmark alone does not meet this receipt deadline. BP-RETURN · VOTE-MAIL |
| Election Day hours | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Local time. Check the assigned polling place for applicable exceptions. BP-HOURS · VOTECLOCK · GP-HOURS |
In-person absentee voting begins October 14 and ordinarily ends November 2. The application to have a ballot mailed was due October 19. OFF-IA · BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL · BP-RETURN · BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY
Official state election information and ballot lookup. Military/overseas, emergency, accessible-ballot and special-eligibility rules can differ.