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.