What you need to know about voting in Iowa’s 2022 midterm elections

Early in-person voting begins Wednesday for Iowa's 2022 midterm elections, and voters wanting to vote absentee must request a ballot by Oct. 24.

The Nov. 8 election will decide which candidates prevail for seats including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Iowa Legislature, Iowa Secretary of State, State Auditor and county supervisors. It’ll determine which political party controls each chamber of Congress and state legislatures nationwide.

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

Sample ballots

View the sample ballots based on your precinct for the Nov. 8 midterm elections:

Linn County sample ballot: Enter your address on the county elections site.

Johnson County sample ballot: The county auditor’s site shows over 60 sample ballots.

Check your registration

Verify your 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 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 the information provided is truthful.

The deadline to register for the general election is 5 p.m. Oct. 24. But 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.

New districts

New districts for Congress and the Iowa Legislature start with this election. To find your new congressional and legislative districts, go to the Legislature’s redistricting page and click on "Interactive Districts." That will bring up a map where you can type in your address and get its new assignment.

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.

Linn County: Early voting takes place at the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids, from Wednesday to Nov. 7. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There also are a number of satellite locations:

Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, Oct. 19 through Nov. 6. Tuesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. — 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: Noon — 5 p.m.

Mt. Mercy University, Busse Library, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, Oct. 20: 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Cornell College, SAW Center, 600 First St., Mount Vernon, Oct. 27: Noon — 6 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Oct. 22: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.; Oct. 23: 1—5 p.m.; Oct. 24-25: 3:30—7:30 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Oct. 28-29: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.; Oct. 30: 1—5 p.m.; Nov. 6: 1—5 p.m.

Kirkwood Community College, Recreational Center, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Nov. 1: Noon — 6 p.m.;

Coe College, Gage Memorial Union, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Nov. 2: Noon — 6 p.m.

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

In Johnson County: Early voting will be available Wednesday through Nov. 7 at the Auditor's Office in the Administration Building Lobby, 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Hours are: weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 5: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 6: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Drive-through voting also is at the Health & Human Services Building Parking Ramp, 855 S. Dubuque St.

Satellite voting sites will be available:

Iowa Memorial Union, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City (downstairs near Hawk Shop). Wednesday — Oct. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Purpose Place (formerly Dream City and Kingdom Center), 611 Southgate Ave., Iowa City. Oct. 23: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tiffin City Hall, 300 Railroad St, Tiffin. Oct. 25: 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City. Oct. 30: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 31-Nov. 2: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nov. 3: Noon- 6 p.m.

Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., Coralville. Nov. 5: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nov. 6: Noon-4 p.m.

North Liberty Community Library, 520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty. Nov. 5: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 6: 1-4 p.m.

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

How can I vote by mail?

Under a 2021 state law change, county auditors cannot directly mail absentee ballot request forms. Voters may request absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Oct. 24, at which time auditors’ offices must have received the form. Those whose forms are 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 are being mailed starting Wednesday 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. 8.

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.

• 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 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. 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 on the county’s election website and entering 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