Election Day is this Tuesday, Nov. 3. The 2026 general election in Iowa includes races for governor, the U.S. Senate — marking the first time a open seat for governor and Senate have been on the ballot at the same time since 1968 — all four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and every seat in the Iowa House, plus some Senate districts and county offices.
In Johnson, Story and Black Hawk County, every seat on the boards of supervisors will be on the ballot. A law signed last year by Gov. Kim Reynolds requires those three counties — and only those three counties — to elect supervisors by district instead of allowing citizens to elect them at-large, as citizens can choose to do in the state’s other 96 counties.
There’s also a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Amendment 1 would require a two-thirds majority vote of both chambers of the Iowa Legislature to raise individual or corporate income taxes. Such a vote is extremely unlikely, so a “yes” vote on the amendment would effectively freeze in place the Reynolds administration’s income tax policies. The amendment would allow the legislature to lower or eliminate income taxes with a simple majority vote.
In Johnson County, there are also two bonds on the ballot. The county is seeking authorization to issue a $94.5 million general obligation bond to pay for a new jail. If approved, the bond would be repaid over 12 years. An $88 million general obligation bond to pay for facilities and equipment to expand high-demand academic programs at Kirkwood Community College is also on the ballot for Johnson County voters. That bond would be repaid over a 15-year period. Both bonds require approval from 60 percent of voters to pass.
Q: When are polls open on Tuesday? Also, where do I vote?
A: Voting starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m., although if you’re in line when the clock strikes 8, you will still be allowed to cast a ballot. If you haven’t voted since the 2020 presidential election, take note of the 8 p.m. closing time for the polls. Voting on Election Day used to go to 9 p.m., but in 2021, Gov. Reynolds signed into law new restrictions on voting that cut both the number of days for early voting and the time polls are open on Election Day.
Anyone unsure where to vote can use the online look-up tool on the Iowa Secretary of State’s site. Just enter your zip code and street to find your precinct’s poll site. (If you’re not sure what your zip code is, the Post Office has its own online look-up tool for that.)
Don’t go to the auditor’s office. That was a site for early voting, not voting on Election Day.
Q: What sort of ID do I need to vote?
A: The following types of ID are acceptable under the 2017 voter ID requirements Gov. Branstad signed into law in 2017.
• 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 your ID doesn’t have your current address on it, you’ll need one of the following documents as proof of residency.
• Residential lease
• Utility bill, including a cell phone bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck
• Government check
• Other government document
• Property tax statement
Q: I want to vote, but I’m not registered. What do I need to do?
A: Iowa has same-day registration, so any adult citizen who goes to the precinct that corresponds to their home address, and hasn’t been stripped of the right to vote by order of a judge or because they have not completed all court-imposed requirements following a felony conviction (or were convicted of an offense under Chapter 707 of Iowa Code), can register and immediately exercise the franchise.
To register on Election Day, you’ll need one of the forms of ID listed above. If your ID does not have your current address, you’ll need of the proofs of residency also listed above.
Q: I’ve moved since the last time I voted, but never updated my voter registration. Should I just go to my old precinct to vote?
A: No. You vote where you live. You can update your registration on Election Day at the polling place of your current residence, using the ID and/or proofs of residence listed above.
Q: Is assistance available for voters with disabilities?
A: Yes. Each precinct should have two officials — a Democrat and a Republican — designated to assist voters with special needs. If the voter prefers to have someone other than the designated officials assist, that person will have to sign an Affidavit of Voter Requesting Assistance, according to the Iowa Secretary of State.
Curbside voting is also available for those unable to easily exit their vehicles. Once alerted to a voter requesting the curbside option, the two appointed precinct officials will bring a ballot to the voter.
Anyone with questions about assistance with voting should call their county auditor’s office.
Q: I’ve filled out the absentee ballot and want to use that instead of voting in person. What do I do?
A: Well, it’s too late to mail it, but you can still deliver your completed and sealed absentee ballot to your county auditor’s office or deposit it in the official dropbox adjacent to the auditor’s office. To be counted, absentee ballots must be received by the time the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
If you’re unsure where your county auditor’s office is located, you can find its address by using the look-up tool on the Iowa Secretary of State’s site.
