It’s Election Day in Iowa. Here’s what you need to know to vote

“I voted” stickers are scattered over a table at a polling site in Des Moines on Nov. 3, 2020. (Photo By Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

It’s officially Election Day in Iowa, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the state.

Iowans will have the chance to weigh in on the presidential, congressional, state legislative and local elections in 2024, in addition to casting their vote on two proposed constitutional amendments and deciding whether to retain certain judges.

As there are many contentious races on the ballot this year — including the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump and the races for Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts — voter engagement is expected to be high.

Many Iowans have already participated in the election through early and absentee voting options that were open beginning Oct. 16. There’s still time for people who requested absentee ballots to have their vote counted Tuesday, in addition to in-person voting options.

Here’s what Iowans should know to vote this Election Day:

Where do I vote?

Voters can find their precinct polling locations using the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Who can vote in Iowa?

In order to participate in Iowa elections, people must register to vote. A qualified voter in Iowa must be:

• An Iowa resident.
• A U.S. citizen.
• 18 years old by Election Day.

There are also restrictions on voting for certain individuals in Iowa. Voters cannot be:

• A convicted felon, unless their voting rights have been restored.
• Judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
• Claiming the right to vote in any other place.

A person who is eligible to vote but is not yet a registered voter has the option to register on Election Day at their precinct voting location. In order to register, a qualified voter must provide proof of identity using ID like an Iowa driver’s license, non-operator’s ID or U.S. passport, as well as proof of residence using documents like a residential lease, paycheck or utility bill listing their current address.

Check your voter registration status online here.

I’m registered to vote. What do I need to bring to the polls?

Voters who are already registered to vote still need to bring a form of identification with them to their polling place in order to participate. Accepted forms of identification include:

• Iowa driver’s license
• Iowa non-operator ID
• Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military or veteran ID
• ID card issued by employer
• Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
• Tribal ID card/document

If a person does not have a valid ID when they go to vote, they are still allowed to cast a ballot if another registered voter at the precinct attests for their identity. Voters can also bring Election Day registration documents to confirm their identity.

People who do not have accepted IDs or a person willing to attest for them can cast a provisional ballot. People who cast provisional ballots will have their voter registration record and related evidence reviewed by the absentee and special voters’ precinct board. Individuals casting provisional ballots can provide proof of ID or other confirmation of their eligibility to the board up until the time of county canvass of votes, which this year is Nov. 12.

In October, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate sent out a list to county auditors of potential noncitizens who are registered to vote. These people — many of who are understood to be naturalized U.S. citizens who have the right to vote — will have their credentials challenged and be required to cast provisional ballots, unless they provide proof of U.S. citizenship using verification like a Certificate of Naturalization or a U.S. passport.

While some county auditors have contacted listed individuals in their jurisdictions, not all individuals may be aware of the need to provide additional proof of citizenship.

I have an absentee ballot that I haven’t returned. What should I do?

Iowans who have sent in their absentee ballots can track the ballot’s status on the Secretary of State’s website. But for people who have not yet returned their ballot, there’s still time to participate in this year’s election.

Absentee ballots can be returned to a voter’s local county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be valid. These ballots cannot be delivered to precinct polling locations on Election Day.

If a voter cannot go themselves to return the ballot, Iowa has some restrictions on who can return it in their stead — voters can designate another person to return their absentee ballot if they are an immediate family member or member of the household. Voters with disabilities can also designate someone outside of these categories to return their ballot.

There’s also options available for people who have requested — but not returned — absentee ballots to vote in-person on Election Day. Voters can cast regular ballots if they bring in their absentee ballot to the precinct polling place and surrender it. If a person requested an absentee ballot but cannot return it, they are allowed to cast a provisional ballot.

What’s on the ballot?

In addition to the presidential election, all four of Iowa’s U.S. House seats are up for reelection in 2024. There are also numerous races for the Iowa Legislature that voters will weigh in on, as well as two constitutional amendments and whether to retain some judges.

Check out these articles about this year’s races:

• As presidential campaign rockets toward end, 7 big things that happened this weekend
• U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Democrat Christina Bohannan face off in Iowa’s 1st District
• Hinson looks to presidential politics in 2nd District race against Sarah Corkery
• Democrat Lanon Baccam challenges U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn for 3rd District seat
• U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra takes on rematch against Democrat Ryan Melton in 4th District
• Here are some Iowa Statehouse races we’re watching in the 2024 election
• What to know about Iowa’s judicial retention process
• Iowans will decide on two constitutional amendments in November. What to know

Read the Iowa Capital Dispatch’s Voter Guide — and our coverage at Decision 2024 — to learn more.