How to vote in Iowa’s 2025 city and school elections

Early in-person voting begins Wednesday for Iowa's 2025 city and school elections, and voters wanting to vote absentee must request a ballot by Oct. 20.

The Nov. 4 election will decide local races for mayor, city council, school board, and it will decide ballot initiatives include school bonds and local-option sales taxes.

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.

Quick links

Linn County elections: linncountyiowa.gov/vote

Johnson County elections: johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections

Iowa Secretary of State: sos.iowa.gov

Learn about the candidates at thegazette.com/campaigns-elections

Check your registration

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

Iowa requires registered voters to:

Update your voter registration if you have changed your name, address or political party affiliation. You will need another form of documentation proving your residency if your ID does not reflect your current address.

Valid documentation includes:

A registered voter in your precinct 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 the information provided is truthful.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is 5 p.m. Oct. 20. Iowa also allows same-day voter registration at the polls.

You can register online via the Iowa Department of Transportation website (iowadot.gov, search for “voter”) using your Iowa driver’s license or state ID. You also may download and mail a form from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website to your county auditor.

How to vote early in person

Bring your ID: Voters must show a driver's license, non-driver's ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, tribal ID or Voter ID card.

In Linn County: Early voting takes place at the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids, from Oct. 15 to Nov. 3. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Linn County elections website or email elections@linncountyiowa.gov or call 319-892-5300.

In Johnson County: Voters can vote early in person at the Johnson County Auditor's office before any election, through Nov. 3, the day before Election Day. Voting can be done at the Administration Building Lobby, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Weekdays, Wednesday, Oct. 15 through Monday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

How to vote early by satellite location

Some counties offer “satellite” locations for voting early.

In Linn County:

In Johnson County:

How to vote early by mail

Voters may request absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Oct. 20, at which time auditors’ offices must have received the form. Forms received after that time will not receive an absentee ballot.

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.

Absentee ballots will be mailed and can be returned by mail or dropped off at the auditor’s office. To be counted, all mailed absentee ballots must arrive at the auditor’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. Nov. 4.

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

Only the voter, someone in the household, an immediate family member or a designated “delivery agent” may return ballots.

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

How to vote on Election Day

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 if needed.

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

Where to vote: Voters must go to their designated precinct to vote on Election Day. Check with your county auditor to determine your precinct, or use these lookup tools: