The Steps of Submitting an Absentee Ballot By Mail

1. Complete the Request Form: Obtain the official request form from the Iowa Secretary of State absentee voting website. The voter must provide their name, date of birth, Iowa residential address, the name and date of the election, and the voter’s signature.
2. Provide Verification: Include the required voter identification verification, such as an Iowa Driver’s License number, Non-Operator ID number, or Voter PIN.
3. Submit to the Auditor: Submit the signed paper form directly to the voter’s County Auditor via mail or in-person office
4. Receive the Ballot Package: Once processed, the County Auditor will mail an official ballot and return materials. Ballots will begin to be mailed on October 14.
5. Cast and Return Ballot: Carefully mark the ballot, seal it inside the official return envelope, and return it via mail or hand delivery to the County Auditor’s office before 8 PM CT on Election Day.

Make a Plan: Ensure Your Ballot Returns on Time

Requesting a ballot is only the first half of the process; returning it on time is crucial. Share these tips to ensure your members know the rules for returning their ballots so their votes are counted.

Copy the below blurb for your newsletters, or download the graphic to share directly on your social channels.

If a voter plans to vote by mail this election cycle, waiting until the last minute can put their vote at risk. To be eligible for counting, voted absentee ballot must be received by the voter’s County Auditor by 8:00 p.m. CT on Election Day. It’s useful to have a plan in place to ensure a vote makes it in on time.

• Return By Mail: Mark the ballot, carefully follow the official instructions included in the packet, and seal it in the postage-paid return envelope. It is important that a voter use the exact return envelope supplied by their County Auditor.
• Return By Hand Delivery: A voter can personally deliver their voted ballot directly to their County Auditor’s office before 8:00 p.m. CT on Election Day. It’s important to understand that a voted absentee ballot cannot be dropped off at a voter’s polling site on Election Day.
• Designating Someone Else: If a voter needs assistance returning their ballot, they can designate someone to return it for them under specific circumstances. Their designee can be one of following circumstances; An immediate family member, a member of the voter’s household, or a designated person if they are disabled. Detailed directions for this are included in official ballot instructions.

Voters can track the status of the request and ballot using the official Iowa Secretary of State Ballot Tracker.

*Please note that a postmark on or before Election Day does not count, the ballot must physically be in the auditor’s office before the polls close.

A Guide to In-Person Absentee Voting

Some voters prefer to cast their ballot early but want the peace of mind of doing it in person. Share this information so your community understands how and when they can vote early at their County Auditor’s office. Copy the below blurb for your newsletters, or download the graphic to share directly on your social channels.

For voters who want to cast a ballot early without using any of the provided mail options, or for those who are unable to vote in person on Election Day, access is available for early absentee in-person voting in Iowa. It’s a process that is commonly takes place at the County Auditor’s office or at designated satellite voting stations.

• First Day of Voting: For the upcoming election, early in-person voting officially begins on Wednesday, October 14. 
• Final Deadline: In-person voting runs up to 5:00 p.m. on the day before Election Day, Monday, November 2.

To receive an in-person absentee ballot, a registered voter must provide the following details on the application form:

1. Full name and date of birth.
   
2. Iowa residential address.
   
3. Voter Verification Number: This can be; An Iowa Driver’s License number, a Non-Operator ID number, or the four-digit Voter PIN found on the official Iowa Voter ID Card.
   *Any voter may request a free Voter ID Card by contacting their County Auditor’s Office.
4. The name or the exact date of the election.
5. Party Affiliation: This is strictly required for Primary Elections.
6. The signature of the voter and the date the form was completed.

What to Do on Election Day If a Voter Still Has Their Absentee Ballot

Sometimes plans change, or mail gets delayed. It’s crucial that your members know exactly what to do if they wake up on Election Day and still have their unmailed absentee ballot in hand. Share this section to prevent confusion at the polls and ensure their vote still counts.

If Election Day arrives and a voter haven’t mailed or turned in their absentee ballot, do not take the voted ballot to a polling place, they cannot accept it. Instead, voters have two options:

• Surrender and Vote Regular: Take the absentee ballot to the voter’s polling place, surrender it to the poll workers, and vote a regular, in-person ballot instead.
• Vote Provisional: If a voter wants to vote in person but cannot surrender their ballot (for example, if they lost it), they can still go to their polling place and vote a provisional ballot.

Important Election Dates

Voter readiness comes down to knowing the deadlines. Share these key dates so your community never misses a date.

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. CT. Absentee ballots must be received to a voter’s County Auditor’s office prior to 8:00 p.m. CT on Election Day.

• Wednesday, October 14: First Day of Absentee Voting.
• Monday, October 19: Pre-registration Deadline; Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot to be Mailed (Must be received by County Auditor prior to 5:00 p.m. CT).
• Monday, November 2: Absentee Ballot In-Person Deadline.
• Tuesday, November 3: Absentee Ballots Receipt Deadline & Election Day.

*Voters casting their absentee ballot pursuant to UOCAVA or Iowa Code Chapter 9E should review their absentee ballot instructions for additional guidance.

Tracking Absentee Ballot

Peace of mind is important when voting by mail. Share this section to let your members know they can track their ballot every step of the way, building trust and confidence in our state’s secure election process.

Iowa provides tools for voters to follow the progress of their mail-in ballots. Registered voters can check the status of their absentee request and ballot delivery online. By utilizing the official tracking tools found on the Iowa Secretary of State website, voters can verify when their County Auditor received the ballot request and when the voted ballot is verified.

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If a voter has more specific questions or needs further assistance with voting, please contact their local county auditor or the Secretary of State’s office.

1-888-SOS-VOTE
(1-888-767-8683.)

elections@sos.iowa.gov

Voting Absentee | Voter Ready | A Guide To Voting In Iowa