What to know about voting in Iowa’s June 4 primary

Iowa’s June 4 primary election is right around the corner, and early voting began Wednesday. Here's everything you need to know about voting in the primary election.

Iowa has a closed primary election, which means voters must be registered with the Democratic or Republican Party to participate. Voters can change their party affiliation anytime before election day or at the polling place on election day.

The primary election determines which candidates will be on the Nov. 5 ballot for Democrats and Republicans in federal, legislative and local races.

How do I register to vote in the June primary?

The deadline to register to vote ahead of the June 4 primary is May 20.

You can check whether you’re registered to vote at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

If you are not registered or need to update your information, you can register online at the Iowa DOT website or print a voter registration form and bring it to your local county auditor.

If you miss the deadline, you can still register to vote on Election Day. You must bring a valid photo ID and a proof of residence, if your photo ID does not contain your current address.

How do I request an absentee ballot for the Iowa primary election?

If you would like to mail your absentee ballot, you can request one until 5 p.m. on May 20. You can mail an absentee ballot request to your local county auditor or deliver it there in person.

Mailed absentee ballot requests must be received by an auditor by the May 20 deadline, so if you want to be sure your request arrives, you should take it there in person. Forms can be found at your local county auditor’s website or office.

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

You can keep track of your absentee ballot using a tool on the Iowa secretary of state’s website.

How do I return my absentee ballot?

You can return an absentee ballot by mail, at a ballot drop box, or by dropping it off at your county auditor’s office.

Mailed absentee ballots must be received by the county auditor’s office by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on June 4.

Absentee ballots cannot be delivered to a polling place on Election Day. Voters can either:

Can I vote early in person?

You can vote early in person without mailing an absentee ballot request form. Early in-person voting is available between now and June 3, the Monday before the election.

The early voting hours vary by county, but many county auditors offer early voting Monday through Friday at their office. Some counties offer satellite early voting locations.

You will need the same information to vote early as you do for an absentee ballot, including your residential address and driver’s license or voter ID number.

How do I vote on Election Day?

The primary election will be held on June 4. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can find your polling place at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or from your local auditor.

Iowa requires voters to show a photo ID to vote on Election Day. If you do not have a valid ID, you can have another registered voter attest to your identity, or provide proof of identity and residence using Election Day registration documents.

Who is on the ballot in the primary election?

Three of Iowa’s four Congressional Districts have primary elections this year:

There are many other primary races for seats in the state Legislature and for local county supervisors and sheriffs.

You can find sample ballots for your local races at your county auditor’s website.

There are no statewide primary elections this year. The governor and other statewide executives aren’t on the ballot until 2026, and neither of Iowa’s Republican U.S. senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, is up for re-election.