Iowans who register to vote as a Republican or Democrat can now cast their ballots in the 2026 primary election.
Voters can weigh in on who they think their party's nominee should be for governor, U.S. Senate, other statewide offices, U.S. House districts, state House and Senate districts and county offices. The winner of each primary race will be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
Voters can start casting their ballots Wednesday, May 13 at their county auditor's office or another satellite voting location. Wednesday is also the first day county auditors can mail out absentee ballots to voters who requested them.
The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is Monday, May 18. Requests for absentee ballots must be received by county auditor offices by 5 p.m. on May 18.
Find more details here about registering to vote and updating your registration if you’ve moved. The deadline for pre-registering to vote by mail or online is May 18. But voters can still register to vote after the deadline by visiting their county auditor's office or by registering at their polling place on Election Day. Voters must declare a party affiliation to participate, but that can be done or changed when they vote or request an absentee ballot.
How to vote early in person
Voters can cast their ballots in person at their local county auditor's office or elections office through June 1, the day before Election Day. Every county will have its county auditor's office or county elections office open for early in-person voting from May 13 through June 1. Additional early voting locations may be available in your county. You can find more information on your county auditor's website or social media. You can also contact your county auditor if you have questions.
Voters need to bring one of these documents to vote:
- Iowa Driver's License
- Iowa Non-Operator ID
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
- Iowa Voter Identification card (must be signed)
- Tribal ID/Card document (must be signed, with photo)
If you don't have one of the forms of ID above, you can bring Election Day registration documents or have another registered voter in your precinct attest to your identity. Attestation will no longer be an option after July 1, when a new state law will take effect.
If you don’t have any of those with you, you can vote a provisional ballot and come back later to provide ID or necessary documents to have your ballot counted.
Iowa Voter ID cards are provided automatically to each voter who doesn't have an Iowa Driver's License or non-operator ID. You can also request one through your county auditor's office.
Iowans can register to vote online, at their county auditor's office or other early voting location, or at their polling place on Election Day.
How to vote by mail
To vote by mail, you have to request a ballot. You can download absentee ballot request forms here and track your absentee ballot here.
Election officials recommend requesting your ballot early — ballot request forms must be received by your county auditor's office by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 18. Find more information about requesting an absentee ballot here.
Make sure to follow all instructions on your absentee ballot, including sealing the envelope and signing and dating it.
Voters can bring their filled out absentee ballot to their county auditor's or elections office, but the ballot needs to be received by the county auditor's office by 8 p.m. on June 2 when polls close.
If you're unable to drop off your ballot in person, you can designate an immediate family member, another member of your household or, if you have a disability, another designated person, to return your ballot.
You can also mail in your ballot. Filled out absentee ballots must be received by the county auditor's office by 8 p.m. on June 2 when polls close. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing in your ballot at least one week before the deadline.
If the ballot tracker shows that your ballot wasn't received by Election Day, you can go to your county auditor's office and fill out a provisional ballot. If you have concerns about your ballot request or ballot being received, you can contact your county auditor.
And, if you haven't dropped off or mailed in your ballot by Election Day, you can surrender your absentee ballot at your precinct polling place on Election Day and vote a regular ballot. Filled out absentee ballots can only be turned in at your county auditor's office on Election Day, not other polling places.
You can find sample ballots for your county by going to your county auditor's website or by visiting their office.
You can also vote in person on primary Election Day, June 2, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Find where to vote here.
