Voting FAQs for College Students

Any U.S. citizen whose residence is in Iowa (including college students) who are at least 18 years old may vote in Iowa.

Proof of citizenship is not required at the time of voter registration. However, as of July 1, 2025, if a voter is unable to be verified as a citizen by the county (through Department of Transportation records or the federal SAVE program), their registration will be considered “unconfirmed” and a notice will be mailed to them with instructions to provide proof of citizenship. Poll workers also now have the power to request documentation of citizenship if a person’s right to vote is challenged at the polls, so we recommend that students be able to produce proof of citizenship if asked.

Convicted felons may have their voting rights restored, subject to the requirements of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Executive Order 7.

You may be! Iowa residents can check to see if they are already registered by visiting sos.iowa.gov/amiregistered.

It is important to check your voter registration status at least one month prior to an election to ensure it has not changed since the last time you voted in Iowa.

You MUST update your voter registration if you:

1. Change your legal name
2. Change your address (including moving to a different campus or Ames residence)
3. Change party affiliation

In 2021, the Iowa legislature passed a bill requiring voters who did not vote in the most recent general election to be marked as “inactive.” Previously, voters had to miss two consecutive general elections to be considered inactive. Voters marked inactive in 2023 are still registered to vote and can vote in any election through 2026.

If you registered to vote in Iowa prior to the 2022 general election, but you didn’t vote in the 2022 election and you haven’t updated your voter registration since then, you should have received a “No Activity” notice from the secretary of state’s office at the address on your voter registration (see sample notice).

You can return your registration to active status by doing any one of these:

• Completing and returning the postage-paid postcard included with the No Activity notice
• Voting in any election in Iowa (in person or absentee)
• Updating your voter registration by the 2026 general election (Nov. 3, 2026)

If inactive voters do not do one of these things, their Iowa voter registration will be canceled after the November 2026 election and they will have to re-register to vote in Iowa.

To check your voter registration status, visit sos.iowa.gov/amiregistered.

In Iowa, you can register to vote before Election Day or at the polls on Election Day. It is much easier and highly recommended to register before Election Day. And remember – you must update your registration any time your address, legal name, or party affiliation changes.

Proof of citizenship

Proof of citizenship is not required at the time of voter registration. However, as of July 1, 2025, if a voter is unable to be verified as a citizen by the county (through Department of Transportation records or the federal SAVE program), their registration will be considered “unconfirmed” and a notice will be mailed to them with instructions to provide proof of citizenship.

Pre-registration (highly recommended)

To register before Election Day, you may:

• Register online if you have an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID.

OR

• Download and complete a State of Iowa Official Voter Registration Form and return it to your county auditor’s office.

OR

• If you are registering in Story County, download and complete the form provided by the county auditor – no postage is required when returning it.

Pre-registration must be done at least 15 days before the election in which you wish to vote. When using the printed request form, make sure you sign the form, and allow at least five days for mail delivery.

You should receive your voter registration card from your county auditor within two weeks. This card is required at the polls if you do not have an Iowa’s driver’s license or non-operator ID. If you do have an Iowa’s driver license or non-operator ID, your voter registration card is not required at the polls and is instead for informational use only (polling location, ID requirements).

Registering at the poll (same-day voter registration)

If you register on Election Day or when early voting at the county auditor’s office or a satellite voting location, you must bring both a proof of identify and a proof of residence.

Proof of identity must be a photo ID that is current, valid, and contains an expiration date. Any of the following will work:

• 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
• Employer ID card
• Tribal ID
• High school or college ID card IF the card includes a photo and expiration date

Your proof of residence must contain your name and address, be current within 45 days, and be one of the following:

• Your photo ID from the list above, if it contains your current address
• Residential lease (term of lease must be current)
• Utility bill (electric, water, cable, cell phone, etc.)
• Bank statement
• Property tax statement
• Paycheck
• Government check
• Other government document
• Local address in Workday (In your Workday profile, look for the “Contact” link along the left side of the screen. When you click on that link, the screen will show both your home address and your school address.)

Please note that proof of address may be shown in electronic format (i.e., local address in Workday) but proof of ID cannot.

You can vote in person on Election Day, absentee in person at the county auditor’s office or at a satellite voting station (early voting), or by absentee ballot by mail.

Proof of citizenship

As of July 1, 2025, poll workers in Iowa have the power to request documentation of citizenship if a person’s right to vote is challenged at the polls, so we recommend that students be able to produce proof of citizenship if asked.

Do I need an ID to vote in person?

Yes. In Iowa, registered voters are required to show a photo ID that is current, valid and contains an expiration date when voting in person. The ID must prove both identity (who you are) and residence (where you live).

Valid scannable forms of identification (helpful for your poll worker when checking you in at the poll):

• Iowa driver’s license
• Iowa voter ID card with barcode and PIN (issued to registered voters without an Iowa driver’s license or ID)

Other valid forms of identification:

• Iowa non-operator ID
• Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID or veteran’s ID
• Tribal ID/document
• Student ID from an Iowa high school or college IF the card includes a photo and expiration date. If your Iowa State ID was issued before June 1, 2020, it cannot be used because it does not include an expiration date. New IDs can be purchased at 0530 Beardshear Hall.

If your ID does not have your current address (for example, if you use an out-of-state driver’s license for your photo ID), you must also show one of the proof-of-residence documents listed in the “How do I register to vote?” section above. The residency document must show your name and current address, be dated, and show that you lived in the precinct within the last 45 days.

If you cannot prove who you are and where you live with the documents listed above, a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. You can then cast a provisional ballot and provide ID by the deadline listed on the provisional ballot envelope (Monday after Election Day for primary and general elections). Both you and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true. Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud and is a class “D” felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,245 and up to 5 years in prison.

Please visit the Iowa secretary of state’s Voter ID FAQ for more information on voter ID requirements.

Voting absentee by mail

You may submit a State of Iowa Official Absentee Ballot Request Form to your county auditor starting 70 days before an election. The request form must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. 15 days before the election (please allow at least five days for mail delivery). We recommend providing your phone number and/or email address in the event the county auditor needs to confirm any information on the request form. The auditor’s office will then mail you an absentee ballot.

After receiving and completing your ballot, follow the instructions included with the ballot to return it in the postage-paid return envelope. In Iowa, absentee ballots must be received at the county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Track the status of your ballot

Absentee ballots CANNOT be forwarded. If you move before your receive your ballot, please CALL your county auditor to either cancel the ballot or have a new one issued.

If you received an absentee ballot but did not return it and you wish to vote in person at your student address instead:

• If your absentee ballot is from Story County, take it to your Ames polling place and surrender it, and then you can register and vote in person at the polling place.
• If your absentee ballot is not from Story County, contact that county auditor’s office to have the ballot voided, and then mail it back to them as spoiled. You can then register and vote in person at your Ames polling place.

Voting absentee in person at the auditor’s office

In Iowa, you may cast an absentee ballot in person at your county auditor’s office starting 20 days before the election. You must cast the ballot at the auditor’s office; you cannot take it home. All absentee ballots are counted and tabulated on Election Day. Don’t forget your voter ID!

In-person absentee voting is not available on Election Day unless the polls open at noon. If the polls open at noon, you may cast an absentee ballot at the county auditor’s office from 8-11 a.m. on Election Day.

Voting absentee in person at a satellite voting station

Some county auditors host satellite voting locations where voters can cast an absentee ballot in person before Election Day. All absentee ballots are counted and tabulated on Election Day. Don’t forget your voter ID!

To find out if your county auditor is hosting a satellite voting station, contact your local county auditor’s office.

Voting on Election Day

On Election Day, you will vote at the polling place for your precinct, which is listed on your voter registration card or you can look it up online. You can vote ONLY at the polling place for your precinct (not just at any campus polling place), so make sure you know where it is!

For primary and general elections, polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. Don’t forget your voter ID!

If you need assistance to vote due to a disability, you have the right to an accessible voting location, accessible voting equipment, and assistance in casting your ballot.

Voting by mail

If you are unable to travel to your polling location on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot prior to Election Day. See “Voting absentee by mail” in the “How do I vote?” section above for information about requesting and returning an absentee ballot.

Filling out a paper ballot

When voting in person, you may request help to fill out a paper ballot. You may choose anyone (including your precinct election officials) except your employer, your employer’s agent, or an officer/agent of your union. If someone other than a precinct official assists you, you must sign an Affidavit of Voter Requesting Assistance (available at your polling place).

Accessible voting machines

Accessible voting machines are used across Iowa to assist voters with reading or marking their ballot. Please contact your county auditor for information about the specific accessible voting machine available at your polling place.

Curbside voting

If you cannot enter a polling location due to a disability, you may vote curbside. Precinct election officials (one from each political party in partisan elections) will bring voting materials to your car, where you can mark your ballot. Though you are not required to contact anyone ahead of time, it can be helpful to call your county auditor or bring someone with you to tell the precinct officials you wish to vote in your car.

For more information from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office

• Visit the Elections Accessibility webpage
• Email their office
• Email or call 888-767-8683 for vision impairment assistance