How to vote in Iowa’s 2022 primary election in Linn, Johnson counties

Early in-person and mail-in voting is now underway for Iowa's 2022 primary elections.

This election will decide which candidates appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballots for seats including the U.S. Senate, Iowa Legislature, Iowa Secretary of State, State Auditor and county supervisors. Not all seats up for election in November will have a primary to winnow candidates, as only one Democrat and one Republican has qualified to run in those races.

Voting in the June 7 Election

Here's what you need to know about how to check your voter registration status, how to request absentee ballots and return them, how to vote early in person and how to vote on Election Day, June 7.

Quick links

Linn County elections: linncountyelections.org

Johnson County elections: johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections

Iowa Secretary of State: sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation

Learn more about who is running at thegazette.com/campaigns-elections

Sample Ballots

View the sample ballots for the June 7 primary election:

Linn County sample ballot: To view a sample ballot, enter your address on the county auditor’s site.

Johnson County sample ballot: Sample ballots are available to view on the county auditor’s site.

How do I check my voter registration status?

Verify your status at the secretary of state’s website.

Iowa requires registered voters to:

You must update your voter registration if you have changed your name, address or political party affiliation. If your current address is not reflected on your ID, you will need another form of documentation proving your residency.

Valid documentation includes:

A registered voter in your precinct also may attest to your identity if you are not able to prove your identity with any of those documents. Both you and the attester will need to sign an oath that this information is truthful.

The deadline to register for the primary is 5 p.m. May 23. Iowa also allows same-day voter registration at the polls.

Partisan primary elections are closed elections in Iowa, so only registered Democrats and Republicans will be able to vote for their respective party’s candidates.

Those not registered to vote and those registered as No Party can register as either Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary through 5 p.m. May 23. People also may register or change their registration on the day of the June 7 primary election at their polling place.

How can I vote early in person?

Bring your ID: Voters will be asked to show a driver's license, non-driver's ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, tribal ID, or Voter ID card before they vote.

In Linn County: Early voting takes place at the Linn County Auditor’s Office, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids, until 5 p.m. June 6.

Hours are:

Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Memorial Day, May 30: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 4: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 5: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There are no satellite locations, as none were petitioned for, according to the Auditor’s Office.

For more information, visit the website at linncountyelections.org, or email elections@LinnCounty.org or call 319-892-5300.

In Johnson County: Early voting will be available until 5 p.m. June 6 at the Auditor's Office, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Drive-through voting is at the Health & Human Services Building Parking Ramp, 855 S. Dubuque St.

Hours are:

Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed May 30 for Memorial Day)

June 4: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 5: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Four satellite voting sites will be available:

June 4:

Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., Coralville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

North Liberty Community Library, 520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 5:

Dream City (formerly Kingdom Center), 611 Southgate Ave., Iowa City, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find more information at the Johnson County auditor's website at johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections, or email elections@johnsoncountyiowa.gov or call 319-356-6004.

How can I vote by mail?

Under a 2021 state law change, county auditors may no longer directly mail absentee ballot request forms.

Voters may request absentee ballots until 5 p.m. May 23, at which time auditors’ offices must have received the form. Those whose forms are received after that time will not receive an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots were being mailed starting Wednesday, and can be returned by mail or dropped off at the auditor’s office. All mailed absentee ballots must arrive at the auditor’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. to be counted.

Both Linn and Johnson counties will have drop boxes outside their auditors’ offices to collect absentee ballots once early voting begins. These will be available 24/7 and under video surveillance.

To request a ballot: Contact your auditor's office if you’d like an absentee ballot mailed to you or print out the request form online and return it to the auditor’s office. Only the registered voter may sign voting forms.

• Linn County: Visit the auditor’s website, or email elections@linncounty.org or call 319-892-5300 Ext. 1.

• Johnson County: Visit the county auditor’s website, or email elections@johnsoncountyiowa.gov or call 319-356-6004.

Only the voter, someone in the household, an immediate family member or a designated “delivery agent” may return ballots. This rule is part of the 2021 state law change.

Track your ballot: Visit bit.ly/TrackMyAbsentee to learn when your absentee ballot request was received, when your ballot is mailed and when the auditor's office receives your returned ballot.

How can I vote on the day of the primaries?

What you need: Voters must show a driver's license, non-driver's ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, tribal ID, or Voter ID card before they vote. Contact your county auditor’s office to receive a Voter ID card.

Hours: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where to vote: Voters must go to a designated precinct to vote on Election Day. This place may have changed because precinct boundaries were redrawn after the census and redistricting process last year. Check with your county auditor for details or use these lookup tools:

• Linn County: Find your polling place by following the steps in the county's lookup tool using your address.

• Johnson County: Voters can use the lookup tool on the county auditor’s website to find their polling place.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com