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Iowa

Student-friendly residencyNo-excuse absentee
Next election
Iowa General Election
Nov 3, 2026
57
days away

Key dates for the Iowa General Election

From Iowa's official election information, last reviewed Jul 25, 2026. VoteU is an independent nonpartisan project, not a government site, so confirm anything time-critical on the official page below.

Election day, voter registration deadline, and absentee ballot request deadline for the Iowa General Election
Election dayNov 3, 2026 (57 days away)
Register to vote byOct 19, 2026 (42 days away)
Request an absentee ballot byOct 19, 2026 (42 days away)

The absentee date above is the deadline to request a ballot. The deadline to return a completed ballot is set separately by Iowa and is not tracked here. See how to request an absentee ballot as a student.

Register to vote
Official Iowa portal
Iowa Secretary of State
All official election info

VoteU Guide

Deadlines for registering to vote in Iowa, straight from our data

Hey! I can help you figure out whether you can register to vote in Iowa, what the deadlines are, and how to sign up. Try one of these:

Nonpartisan, and only quotes deadlines from VoteU's data. For legal edge cases, check with your county election office.

Upcoming elections

GeneralIA57 days away

Iowa General Election

Nov 3, 2026

Open Governor and U.S. Senate seats, plus a constitutional amendment on income-tax increases. Pre-register by 5 p.m. Oct 19, the same deadline for mailed absentee-ballot requests. Miss it? Iowa has Election Day registration with proof of ID and residence.

GovernorU.S. SenateU.S. HouseState Legislature
On the ballot
  • Two-Thirds Vote for Income Tax Increases Amendment
    Requires a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers to raise individual or corporate income tax rates or create a new income tax.
For students: Iowa, Iowa State and UNI students can register at school, including on Election Day with a student ID and proof of campus address.
Register by
Oct 19, 2026 (42d)
Absentee by
Oct 19, 2026
+ CalendarRegister →

Voting from campus in Iowa

Iowa is flagged in VoteU's dataset as generally allowing students to register at their campus address. Confirm your own situation on the official page above.

Can I vote where I go to college?
What the law says about registering at a campus address
Campus address or home address?
A side by side comparison, and how to switch
How do I request an absentee ballot?
Five steps, plus the request deadline for every state
Can I use my student ID to vote?
The federal floor, and where to find your state's list