Here's when you can vote in-person

 

How can I request an absentee ballot in Iowa?

 

Iowans can begin requesting absentee ballots 70 days before the election. To request an absentee ballot, registered voters have to download an absentee ballot request form and mail or return it to their county auditor.

 

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 15 days before the election, Monday, Oct. 21. County auditors must receive your request by 5 p.m. to send you a ballot

 

 

When do absentee ballots arrive in the mail?

 

Absentee ballots will begin arriving at residences in October. Oct. 16 is the first day county auditors can mail out absentee ballots.  

Iowans can track the status of their absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's website by entering their full name and date of birth.

 

 

When do absentee ballots need to be mailed in to count for the election?

 

Absentee ballots must be returned by mail or dropped off in person to your county auditor's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day Nov. 5.

 

 

How do I register to vote/what if I'm not registered yet in Iowa?

 

Iowans can register to vote ahead of the election online on the Iowa DOT website or by downloading a form from the Secretary of State and mailing it to the local county auditor.

 

Iowa voters also can register to vote at the polls on Nov. 5 but must bring proof of identity and residency, like a utility bill, paycheck, or lease.

 

To qualify to register to vote, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be an Iowa resident.
  • Be at least 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 on or before Election Day.
  • Not be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
  • Not claim the right to vote in any other place.

 

How do I vote early in person?

 

Voters will still go through the absentee ballot request process to vote in-person but will do so at their county auditor's office or a special satellite location. Voters will complete the form, receive a ballot and compete it in the office. They cannot take the ballot home to complete. To receive an absentee ballot, registered voters must present the following information:                                                                 

    Name

    Date of birth

    Iowa residential address

    A voter verification number such as an Iowa driver's license or four-digit voter pin on an Iowa voter ID card

    The name or date of the election you are requesting an absentee ballot from

    Signature and date the form was completed.

 

 

Where is early in-person voting in Iowa?

 

In-person early voting is available at your local county auditor's office.

 

If requested by voters, counties may set up satellite early voting stations to allow voters to cast their ballot at a location other than the auditor's office. To find out satellite voting stations for the upcoming election, contact your county auditor's office.

 

 

How to see if I am registered to vote?

 

Iowans can check to see if they are registered to vote on the Secretary of State's website.

 

 

 

**Des Moines Register reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller and Jessica Rish contributed to this article.