On Election Day, Iowans will head to the polls and vote for a governor, secretary of state, attorney general, secretary of agriculture, auditor of state, treasurer of state, congressmen, and state representatives.
Registering to vote
Iowans can pre-register to vote until Oct. 19; after this deadline, voters can register on election day at the polling locations. To pre-register, fill out the voter registration form on the Iowa Secretary of State website and deliver the form to the county auditor’s office. The Story County Auditor’s office is at 900 6th St, Nevada, IA 50201.
Voter registration forms, either pre-registered or filled out at the polls, will ask about date of birth, legal name, address, party affiliation and ID. All voters must present a valid form of identification to vote, and those registering on election day must additionally show proof of residence.
Valid forms of ID include:
- Iowa Voter Identification Card
- Iowa Driver’s License
- Iowa Non-Operator ID
- U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
- U.S. Passport
- Tribal ID Card/Document
Proof of residence includes:
- Residential lease
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check
- Property tax statement
All Iowans voting must have United States citizenship, reside in Iowa, and be 18 years old on or before election day. College students may register to vote at their college or home address, but not both.
To update voter registration due to a change in name, address or party affiliation, submit a new voter registration form. Voters can check their voter registration status on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website by searching for their name and zip code.
The Secretary of State website offers a search tool to locate proper polling sites based on zip code. Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day.
Absentee ballots and in-person early voting
Early in-person voting at the Story County Auditor’s office begins Oct. 14 and ends Nov. 2, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A written application for a mailed absentee ballot must be received by the voter’s county auditor no later than 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 19. After receiving an absentee ballot via mail, the ballot must be returned to the county auditor’s office by the time the polls close on Nov. 3.
Voters must provide the following information when requesting an absentee ballot:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Iowa residential address
- Voter Verification Number (ID Number)
- Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID Number or four-digit voter PIN located on the voter’s Iowa voter ID Card
- The name or date of the election for which you are requesting an absentee ballot
- Signature and date the form was completed
Absentee ballots must be completed following the instructions included and returned in the provided envelope. For more information, refer to the Iowa Secretary of State FAQ.