Welcome to Election Day in Iowa!
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today as Iowa voters may dodge raindrops to make their way to precincts to cast votes in the presidential race, for Iowa’s four congressional seats and a host of local races.
Iowa was not expected to be a swing state, but a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released on Saturday night showed Vice President Kamala Harris with a 3-point lead over former President Donald Trump.
We’ll be here all day to provide you with updates from around the state and all evening as the latest results come in. Refresh the page and check back often.
When you go to vote on Nov. 5, the top of your Iowa ballot will feature known names such as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris along with their running mates. But as you make your way down the ticket, some races and candidate names may become less familiar.
Not only will 2024 Iowa general election ballots include two proposed constitutional amendments, but some counties also face ballot measures for multi-million dollar bonds for local projects.
Take a look at what’s on your ballot.
— Kate Kealey
Iowans will decide whether nearly 70 judges, including a Supreme Court justice, will keep their jobs. While Iowa’s judges are appointed, they are required to periodically face voters for retention. If a justice is removed, the governor would appoint a replacement.
This year’s slate includes Supreme Court Justice David May, four Iowa Court of Appeals judges, and 64 district and associate judges. The latter will only appear on ballots for voters in their districts.
Justice May’s retention has caught a lot of attention this election cycle after he joined the 4-3 majority of conservative justices that allowed Iowa’s six-week abortion ban to take effect earlier this year. May was appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022, and now voters can say whether he should remain in his seat.
More: 13 Iowa races in the 2024 election we’re watching
District and appellate judges serve six-year terms, while Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms.
For more information about Iowa judges up for reelection, check out this article by the Register’s William Morris.
— Cooper Worth
It’s Election Day and polling places in Iowa opened at 7 a.m. this morning. Voters are assigned a polling place within their communities. To find your polling place, visit voterready.iowa.gov or your county auditor’s website.
If you plan on voting in person today, you have to be in line before polls close at 8 p.m.
— Cooper Worth
Iowa does allow voters to register to vote on Election Day at the correct polling location that corresponds with the voter’s address. To do so, the voter must prove their identity and address. A valid Iowa driver’s license with the voter’s current address can meet both requirements.
Other forms of proof of ID include:
- Iowa non-operator ID
- Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
- U.S. passport
- U.S. military or veteran ID
- ID card issued by an employer
- Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
- Tribal ID card/document
If your driver’s license does not have your current address, or if you’re using an ID without an address on it, you will also need to provide proof of residency.
The following documents (in paper or electronic form) can serve as proof of residence provided they are dated within the last 45 days:
- Residential lease
- Utility bill (including a cellphone bill)
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check or other government document
- Property tax statement
— Kate Kealey
Election laws vary by state, making it at times difficult to keep up and remember what the protocol is every year.
Aside from registering and bringing your ID, here are other election rules to know before you head to the polls, which are open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., in Iowa.
— Kate Kealey
At the top of a ballot will be the presidential race, but from there most races will vary depending on where you live in Iowa. Iowa tickets will have a front and a back, so voters should remember to turn their ballots over to ensure they vote for all their applicable races.
All four of Iowa’s U.S. representative seats are up for election. Iowa House and Senate races will also appear on the ballot. Candidates and races will vary depending on where the voter’s registered address.
Voters will also decide whether to retain Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May and various local judges up for retention.
There will also be two constitutional amendments for Iowans to either approve or deny. A number of county positions such as auditor, sheriff and supervisor will be on the ballot depending on the residence of a voter.
— Kate Kealey
Where do I vote in Iowa? Here’s how to find your precinct.
You can find your precinct on the Secretary of State’s website, voterready.iowa.gov. by entering your ZIP code and address.
— Cooper Worth
How to report problems at the polls on Election Day in Iowa
If you witness questionable activity or have issues while at the polls, visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website on Election Security or call the office’s voter hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE.
Poll watchers will be present across the nation for the general election. These non-government employees can observe parts of the election process, including looking at eligibility slips and challenging a voter’s qualifications. However, they are restricted in what they can do during the election, such as being unable to handle ballots and voting equipment, solicit votes for candidates, or interrupt or talk to a voter while in line or while the voter is approaching the polling place.
Des Moines Register investigative reporters Tyler Jett and Lee Rood will be monitoring election day for any voting problems.
Jett can be reached from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at:
Contact Rood from 3-11 p.m. at:
Be sure to include your name and contact information so they can get back to you.
— Cooper Worth
