An early voter at West Des Moines Public Library on Nov. 3, 2022. — Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

It’s the final weekend to vote early in the Nov. 8 general election. The Polk County Auditor’s Election Office (120 2nd Ave, Suite A, in Des Moines) will be open on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to accommodate people wanting to cast their ballots. The office will be open for in-person voting Friday and Monday during its normal hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will also be five satellite voting locations open on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5. in Polk County.

Altoona Public Library
700 8th St, SW, Altoona
Available precincts: Altoona, Bondurant, Mitchellville, Pleasant Hill and Runnells

Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library
1250 SW District Dr, Ankeny
Available precincts: Ankeny, Alleman and Elkhart

Johnston Public Library
6700 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, 50131
Available precincts: Johnston, Polk City and Sheldahl

Urbandale Public Library
3520 86th St, Urbandale, 50322
Available precincts: Urbandale and Clive

West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Available precincts: West Des Moines

Voting at these locations is available from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday.

Early voting at the West Des Moines Public Library, Nov. 3, 2022. — Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Just like on Election Day, anyone wanting to vote early will have to show one of the forms of ID Iowa has mandated since 2017. In addition to a current Iowa driver’s license, there are five other forms of ID accepted.

• Iowa Voter Identification Card

• 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

Last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed new restrictions on voting by mail into law. Prior to the change, an absentee ballot that was postmarked by Election Day would be counted as long as it arrived in the auditor’s office by the Monday following the election. Now, absentee ballots must be received in the auditor’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. (The same bill cut voting time on Election Day by an hour.)

So, if you received an absentee ballot in the mail, it’s almost certainly too late to mail it back now. A completed and sealed absentee ballot can be deposited in the auditor’s ballot drop box before 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The new voting restriction also limit each county to just one drop box. In Polk County, it is located on the outer wall of the Polk County Auditor’s Election Office at 120 2nd Ave in Des Moines.

Alternatively, you can bring your absentee ballot with you to a voting location, turn it over to an election worker and then vote, either early or on Election Day.

Anyone with questions about early voting can call the Polk County Auditor’s Office at 515-286-3080.