IOWA, USA — Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 5 — is right around the corner. With a presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on the ballot, plus numerous statewide offices, Iowans are ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
Whether you're voting early or making plans to head to the polls on the first Tuesday of November, here's what you need to know before you vote.
Local 5 will have live election results on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from the presidential race, all four of Iowa’s Congressional races, the Iowa Legislature and the balance of power in the U.S. House and Senate
Who can vote?
Be a U.S. citizen.
Be a resident of Iowa.
Be at least 17 years old – a person who will be 18 on or before the general election can vote in the corresponding primary.
Not been convicted of a felony unless you have had your rights restored.
Not currently be judged by a court to be “incompetent to vote.”
Not vote in more than one place.
When is Election Day?
The 2024 general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
What time do polls open and close in Iowa?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Where do I vote?
Use the Iowa Secretary of State's website to find a polling place near you based on your zip code.
How can I get to my polling place?
Back in April, Lyft announced it would offer discounted rides to the polls via its LyftUp Voting Access Program. That means 50% off rideshares, bikes and scooters on for customers on Nov. 5, up to $10.
Uber will also offer 50% off rides on Nov. 5. All users need to do is use the "Go Vote" tile to book a ride. In addition, Uber plans to offer 25% off Uber Eats orders beginning at 6 p.m. on Election Day.
The Des Moines Regional Transit Authority (DART) will also provide free rides to the polls to all central Iowa residents on Election Day. Iowans can ride free on any of DART's local or express route services. Riders using DART On Call and DART On Demand are not eligible for the promotion.
DART's Paratransit Bus Plus riders can reserve a free ride to and from their polling location. All they have to do is reserve the ride at least a day in advance by calling DART Customer Service at 515-283-8136.
How do I register to vote?
If you are not sure about your voter registration, you can check your status with the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
Iowans can register to vote online or by sending a voter registration form to their county auditor.
I haven’t registered to vote yet: Can I still vote on Nov. 5?
Yes, Iowa offers same-day voter registration.
Register to vote at your polling place by bringing proof of ID and proof of residence. If your current address is different than what’s listed on your ID, you can bring in a paper or electronic document that was issued in the past 45 days and has your name and current address.
Click here for more information on registering to vote and how to check your voter registration status
What do I need to bring to vote in Iowa?
To vote in Iowa, you need to bring a form of identification. Valid forms of ID include:
Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID
U.S. passport
U.S. military ID or veteran’s ID
Tribal ID/document
Iowa voter ID card
What if I don’t have an ID?
If you are registered to vote but do not have a Voter ID, you will automatically be mailed a Voter ID card for free, according to the Secretary of State.
How does early voting work?
Wednesday, Oct. 16 marked the first day in-person, absentee ballots were available.
Voters can cast an absentee ballot in person at their county auditor's office, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's office
Can I vote by mail in Iowa?
First, voters must complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the county auditor. This application must be received by your county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, or 15 days before the election.
After receiving a request form, the county auditor will mail the voter an absentee ballot, along with instructions on how to mark and return the ballot.
Return your absentee ballot by mail. Ballots received by the county auditor before 8 p.m. on Election Day are eligible for counting.
I forgot to mail my absentee ballot. What do I do?
If you have not mailed your ballot to your county auditor’s office, you can deliver it in person to that office. You cannot cast an absentee ballot at your normal polling place.
The only people who can return a voted absentee ballot other than the voter are:
- an immediate family member
- someone living in the voter's household
- a caretaker
- precinct officials who deliver the ballot to residents at health care facilities
In some cases, a "delivery agent" may be approved for voters with disabilities.
Absentee ballots returned in person must be submitted before polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
If you mess up on your absentee ballot before turning it in or decide to vote in person, you can simply surrender that ballot at your polling place and vote in person. If you don't turn it in before Election Day, you can also cancel your absentee ballot at your polling place.
But if you have already mailed it in or dropped it off, you cannot vote again.
Federal elections
- President and Vice President
- Kamala Harris/Tim Walz (D)
- Donald Trump/JD Vance (R)
- Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (L)
- Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis (No Party)
- Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia (Party For Socialism and Liberation)
- William Stodden/Stephanie Cholensky (Socialist Party USA)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr./Nichole Shanahan (We The People)
- NOTE: Kennedy has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed former President Donald Trump. However, his name will remain on the Iowa ballot.
- U.S. Representative
- 1st District
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)
- Christina Bohannan (D)
- 2nd District
- Ashley Hinson (R)
- Sarah Corkery (D)
- Jody Madlom Puffett (No Party)
- 3rd District
- Zach Nunn (R)
- Lanon Baccam (D)
- 4th District
- Randy Feenstra (R)
- Ryan Melton (D)
- 1st District
State offices and judicial retention
Ballots will have a state representative race, in which you may select either party's candidate to represent your district in the Iowa House. It also may or may not have a state senator race, depending on your district, where you can elect either party's candidate to represent your district in the Iowa Senate.
Aside from voting for your candidate of choice, Iowans will face two other decisions on whether or not to amend the Iowa constitution. Voters can approve or reject two proposed constitutional amendments: The first amendment (Constitutional Amendment 1) would adjust Iowa's gubernatorial line of succession, while the second (Constitutional Amendment 2) would further clarify who is eligible to vote in Iowa.
On the judicial ballot, voters will have the opportunity to choose whether or not to retain judges, including Supreme Court Justice David May. Justices are appointed by the governor, but must undergo retention elections so voters can decide whether or not they can maintain their positions.
- Supreme Court Justice
- David May
- Court of Appeals Judges
- Tyler Buller
- Mary Chicchelly
- Samuel Langholz
- Mary Ellen Tabor
- 64 district judges
County offices
- County boards of supervisors
- County Attorney
- County Treasurer
- County Recorder
- County agricultural extension council members
- County public hospital trustees
To view a sample ballot, visit your county elections or auditor’s website:
Where can I find Iowa election results?
Stay with Local 5 on Election Day to see election results from across Iowa.
Click here to see all results and updates leading up to Election Day.