Voter ID and Election Law Changes
August 29, 2019
Voter ID Requirements Effective in 2019
- Voters will be required to show an approved ID:
- Current Iowa Driver's License or Non-Operators ID
- Current U.S. Passport
- Current U.S. Military ID
- U.S. Veteran's ID
- Tribal ID
- Voter ID Card (New Voter ID card has been automatically mailed to all voters who do not have an Iowa Driver's License or Non-Operators ID).
- Additional Options:
Voters may provide separate proof of identity and proof of residence (Election Day Registration Document) or have an Attester
- Voters without the necessary ID will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after Election Day for Primary and General Elections).
- Voters are no longer allowed to sign an additional oath of identification when failing to provide an approved form of ID.
Major Election Law Changes Effective Prior to 2019
- Registering to vote on Election Day (or after the Pre-registration deadline).
- Prove your identity with a current photo ID that has an expiration date on it.
- Prove where you live with a bill or documents dated within the last 45 days.
- Voters who are pre-registered but moving within the county on Election Day must now provide both proof of identity and proof of residency.
- Voting in person before Election Day:
- Will begin 29 days before the Election and continue up through the day before Election Day.
- Requesting an Absentee ballot to be sent by mail:
- Requests may be submitted no more than 120 days before an election.
- Requests must be submitted by 5pm on the pre-registration deadline (10 days before general elections or 11 days before other elections).
- Absentee ballots will be mailed out between 29 and 10 days before an election.
- Returned absentee ballots must still be postmarked on the day before the election.
Other Election Law Changes Effective January 1, 2019
- 17-yr olds will be eligible to register to vote and even vote in primary elections so long as they are 18 on or before the date of the General Election.
- School and City elections will be combined into one election in November.
For more information, visit the Iowa Secretary of State's website.
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