Early voting in the Nov. 4 city and school election began on Wednesday morning, as county auditors across Iowa mailed out absentee ballots requested by voters and in-person voting started in the auditors’ offices.
Voters who want a mail-in absentee ballot have a few more days to send a completed ballot request form to their auditor’s office. Those forms must be received by the auditor’s office by the end of day on Monday, Oct. 20. That’s also the final chance to register to vote before Election Day. Same-day registration will be available at all polling places on Election Day.
Since 2017, it has been necessary to produce a state-approved form of ID to exercise your right to vote. The following forms of ID are considered acceptable for both voting and registering to vote.
• 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
If you have moved since the last time you voted, and your ID does not have your current address, you will need to provide proof of your current residence. According to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, the following forms of proof of residence are acceptable.
• Residential lease
• Utility bill, including a cell phone bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck
• Government check
• Other government document
• Property tax statement
Early voting in Polk County
Early in-person voting in Polk County will take place in the county’s Election Office in Des Moines (now located at 2309 Euclid Ave) on weekdays through Monday, Nov. 3. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ballots for all precincts in Polk County will be available at the auditor’s office during early voting.
Residents of West Des Moines, Grimes and Johnston will also have the opportunity to vote early at satellite locations. “All of Polk County precincts & ballot styles will be available for voters who need assistance marking a ballot using the Open Elect Marking Devices,” according to the auditor’s office. Otherwise, the only ballots available at the satellite locations will be those for the city where the temporary early voting center is.
• West Des Moines: West Des Moines Public Library (4000 Mills Civic Pkwy) – Monday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Grimes: Grimes Public Library (200 N James St) – Tuesday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Johnston: Johnston Public Library (6700 Merle Hay Rd) – Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Early voting in Story County
People wanting to vote early can do so at the Story County Auditor’s Office in the County Administration Building in Nevada (900 6th St) on weekdays through Monday, Nov. 4. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There will be two satellite voting locations in Story County, both in Ames. On Friday, Oct. 24, early voting will take place at Sixty Forward (205 S Walnut Ave), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ames Public Library will host early voting on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
