Voter ID and Election Law Changes
Voter ID Requirements Effective in 2019
- Voters will be required to show an approved ID:
- Current Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operators ID
- Current U.S. Passport
- Current U.S. Military ID
- U.S. Veteran’s ID
- Tribal ID
- Voter ID Card (New Voter ID card has been automatically mailed to all voters who do not have an Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operators ID)
- Additional Options:
Voters may provide separate proof of identity and proof of residence (Election Day Registration Document) or have an Attester
- Voters without the necessary ID will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after Election Day for Primary and General Elections).
- Voters are no longer allowed to sign an additional oath of Identification when failing to provide an approved form of ID.
Major Election Law Changes Effective Prior to 2019
- Registering to vote on Election Day (or after the Pre-registration deadline).
- Prove your identity with a current photo ID that has an expiration date on it.
- Prove where you live with a bill or documents dated within the last 45 days.
- Voters who are pre-registered but moving within the county on Election Day must now provide both proof of identity and proof of residency.
- Voting in person before Election Day:
- Will begin 29 days before the Election and continue up through the day before Election Day.
- Requesting an Absentee ballot to be sent by mail:
- Requests may be submitted no more than 120 days before an election.
- Requests must be submitted by 5pm on the pre-registration deadline day (10 days before general elections or 11 days before other elections).
- Absentee ballots will be mailed out between 29 and 10 days before an election.
- Returned absentee ballots must still be postmarked on the day before the election.
Other Election Law Changes Effective January 1, 2019
- 17-yr olds will be eligible to register to vote and even vote in primary elections so long as they are 18 on or before the date of the General Election.
- School and City elections will be combined into one election in November
For more information, visit the Iowa Secretary of State's website.
More News
October 8, 2020
Pottawattamie County announces two satellite voting locations for October 13th.
July 8, 2020
May 27, 2020
Due to COVID-19 there have been significant changes to the way the 2020 Primary Election will be conducted.
May 12, 2020
Pottawattamie County Elections has installed a new absentee ballot drop box outside of the Courthouse.
April 20, 2020
To fight the spread of COVID-19 and to encourage absentee voting by mail, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is sending absentee ballot request forms to every active voter for the June 2nd Primary Election.
If you have moved in the last year, be on the lookout for a National Change of Address Card to update your voter registration.
The filing period for county offices is now underway. Here you can find deadlines, signature requirements, and other usefull information.
The 2020 Iowa Caucus is fast approaching. Here's what you need to know.
New Voter Registration Cards and City/School Election information have been mailed to all active voters.
Due to a recent law change, city and school elections will now be combined into one election, held in November of odd-numbered years.
Polling Locations for CB 13 and Macedonia have moved.
The Iowa Secretary of State has mailed “No Activity” notices to voters who have not voted in any election and have not updated their voter registration information in the past four years.
If you recieved one of these cards please fill it out and return it to the Auditor's Office. Please contact us if you have any questions about the cards.
The Elections department is now on social media! Follow us to stay up-to-date on what's going on in the world of Pottawattamie County Elections.
Our new election app is available on both Apple and Android phones for free! Our Where U Vote Pottawattamie page provides more details and download links.
Caucuses are managed by the Republican and Democratic parties. For more information, visit their websites.