Primary 2026 Election
June 2, 2026
Primary Election
The Primary Election is an election to determine which candidates will qualify for the General Election for a given party. In Iowa you must be a member of the political party of which you wish to vote for in order to participate. This is known as a "closed primary." The primary election is held on the 1st Tuesday following the 1st Monday in June of each even-numbered year.
The 2026 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On Election Night, results will be updated after polls close until all precincts report.
Voter Registration:
Pre-Registration deadline for voter registration closes at 5:00pm Monday, May 18. Persons wishing to participate in this election who register to vote after May 18 will be required to provide proof of identification (i.e. current and valid photo identification card with an expiration date), AND proof of residency in their voting precinct, when they go to the polls on election day, or when they request an absentee ballot in-person. Other provisions may also apply. Persons not registered to vote by May 18, should expect a longer processing time at the polls on election day.
Voter ID Requirements
Click Here for examples of acceptable voter identification requirements.
Absentee Voting:
Absentee Ballots will be available beginning Wednesday, May 13, for mail and in-person voting. Download the absentee ballot request form here.
- The Auditor's Office can begin accepting Request Forms on Tuesday, March 24.
- The first day of in-person absentee voting and the first day the Auditor's Office can mail ballots is Wednesday, May 13.
- The last day an absentee ballot may be mailed to a voter for this election is Monday, May 18.
- In-person absentee voting in the office of the Benton County Auditor closes at 5:00pm on Monday, June 2.
- Requests for absentee ballots must be in writing and should be mailed or delivered to: Benton County Auditor, PO Box 549, Vinton, IA 52349
- More information on Absentee Voting follow the link.
All absentee ballots must be received by 8:00pm on Election Day to be considered on time to be counted. Postmarks no longer are acceptable.
Extended Hours
Extended hours are available for voter registration and absentee voting in the Benton County Auditor's Office. In addition to regular hours of Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm, extended office hours will be as follows:
- Monday, May 18 - 8am to 5pm
- Friday, May 29 - 8am to 5pm
- Saturday, May 30 - 8am to 4pm
- Monday, June 1 - 8am to 5 pm
- Tuesday, June 2: Election Day; Polls and Auditor's Office open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Running for Office:
Candidate Filing Period
- State and Federal Candidate Filing Dates
- Monday, February 23 - Friday, March 13 at 5:00pm
- This includes Democratic, and Republican candidates for state and federal offices (except President) to file nomination papers for the Primary and General Elections.
- Paperwork to be filed with the Secretary of State's Office
- Candidates Filed
- County Candidate Filing Dates:
- Monday, March 2 - Friday, March 20 at 5:00pm
- This includes Democratic, and Republican candidates for county offices to file nomination papers for the Primary and General Elections.
- This excludes Ag Extension, Soil and Water, and Township Trustee/Clerks
- Paperwork to be filed with the Benton County Auditor's Office
- Candidates Filed
Candidate Information Links
Election Results
Results Available on Election Night
0/18 Precincts Counted
