City council and school board elections are coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 2. There have been many changes to Iowa election laws in recent years. A two-page guide to 2021 Election Law Changes for Iowa Voters from the Iowa’s County Auditors summarizes what you need to know.
Voter Registration
Recent changes to Iowa voting laws resulted in 294,000 Iowa voters being moved to “inactive” status. Please check your voter registration and make sure it’s up to date. You can register to vote on Election Day at the polls or when voting early in person at the County Auditor’s office.
Absentee Voting
To vote absentee, you must first get an Absentee Ballot Request form from the County Auditor’s office or download the form online. Requests for an Absentee Ballot must be received at your County Auditor’s office by October 18. Absentee Ballots will be mailed to voters starting October 13. For your vote to count, your Absentee Ballot must be filled in and received at the County Auditor’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. on November 2.
In-Person Voting
In-person Absentee Ballot voting starts Wednesday, October 13, at the County Auditor’s office. Please check with the County Auditor about potential satellite voting locations, dates and times. You can also vote at your precinct location on Election Day, November 2—the last day to vote. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.