How Do I Vote by Absentee Ballot?

Registered voters may request an absentee ballot from their county auditor and receive it by mail. You do not need a witness or notary. The county auditor must receive the request form no later than 5:00 p.m. 15 days before the election.  Anyone who is 18 years old or older by the date of an upcoming election may request an absentee ballot if they have already registered to vote.  

1. Absentee Ballot Request Information

To receive an absentee ballot, a registered voter must provide the following information:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Iowa residential address
• The name OR date of the election for which you are requesting an absentee ballot
• Party affiliation - only required for Primary Elections, held in even numbered years
• Email
• Phone number

Signature And one of the following:

• Iowa Driver's License or Non-Operator ID Number OR
• The 4 digit Voter PIN located on the voter's Iowa Voter ID Card

Any voter may request an Iowa Voter ID Card by contacting their county auditor's office

Absentee Ballot Request Form: AbsenteeBallotApp (iowa.gov)

Find your County Auditor here: ​County Auditor List (iowa.gov)

2. Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Your county auditor must receive the Absentee Ballot Request Form by 5 pm, 15 days before the election.  Once received, your county auditor will mail you a ballot. You will also receive instructions on how to mark the ballot and how to return the ballot.

If your request is received too late to return your ballot by mail, your county auditor will enclose a statement to that effect with the absentee ballot.       

3. Deadline for Returning Your Absentee Ballot

You can return your completed absentee ballot by mail, or return it in person to your county auditor’s office.  Ballots must be received by the time the polls close on election day in order to be counted. Please check the instructions included with the ballot.

You cannot deliver a completed absentee ballot to your polling place on election day.

If you have not returned your absentee ballot on election day, you have the following options: 

1. Deliver your completed  ballot to the county auditor’s office before the polls close on election day,
2. Surrender your complete  absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot, or 
3. If you do not have your completed  absentee ballot in your possession, you can vote with a provisional ballot at the polls.

These options also apply to a voter who has requested an absentee ballot and tries to vote in person on election day. 

Track your Absentee Ballot