How to vote on Election Day and what's on the ballot

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Polls for the 2024 general election will be open Tuesday, November 5th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here's what you need to know:

Register to vote:

Iowa residents must register to vote in elections. Voters must be at least 17 years old, a U.S. citizen and resident of Iowa, and may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Iowans can Register to vote online, by post or at your county auditor's office. However, if the pre-registration period has passed, voters can register at their correct polling place on Election Day. The Foreign Minister has further information on this Register here on election day.

Find your polling station:

Voters in Iowa must cast their ballot at the polling place in the county in which they live. This means that voters must find their correct polling station before casting their vote.

The Iowa Secretary of State's Office has a page on his website Here voters can enter their zip code and address to find the right polling place.

What to bring:

Voters must bring valid identification, either a driver's license, ID card, U.S. passport, military or veteran ID card, or Iowa voter ID card.

If a voter needs to update their address, proof of residency such as a utility bill or bank statement may also be required.

After arriving at the polling station, voters will be given a paper ballot to fill out. County poll workers can help if an error is made on the ballot.

If you have already voted by mail, you can do so Track your mail-in ballot here.

For more information, see voterready.iowa.gov and the Foreign Minister website.

What's on the ballot:

Presidential race:

Democrat Kamala D. Harris and her Vice President Tim Walz
Republican Donald J. Trump and his vice president JD Vance
Libertarian Chase Oliver and Vice President Mike ter Maat
Party of Socialism and Liberation Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia
Socialist Party USA William P. Stodden and Stephanie H. Cholensky
We the People Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vice President Nicole Shanahan (Robert F. Kennedy dropped out of the race but remains on the ballot in Iowa)
Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis

Trump won Iowa by comfortable margins in 2016 and 2020, but current survey data suggests there could be a closer race in 2024. The final Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll before the election showed Harris leading Trump 47 percent to 44 percent among likely voters.

Iowa congressional elections:

District 1 – Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a closely contested rematch against Democrat Christina Bohannan. Miller-Meeks won in 2022 by 7 points. She is seeking a third term. Recent polls show voters would likely prefer to vote for a Democrat in this race.

District 2 – Incumbent Republican Ashley Hinson faces Democrat challenger Sarah Corkery. The latest poll shows Hinson with a three-point lead among likely voters.

District 3 – Republican incumbent Zach Nunn faces Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam. Recent polls show likely voters are more likely to vote Democratic in this district, with Baccam holding a seven-point lead.

District 4 – Republican incumbent Randy Feenstra faces Democratic challenger Ryan Melton. The latest polls show Feenstra with a 16-point lead over Melton among likely voters.

Constitutional changes:

A constitutional amendment changes the Iowa Constitution from “everyone” to “only,” stating that “only” U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older who live in Iowa may vote. Further details can be found here.
The Second Amendment, which Iowa voters will see on the ballot, clarifies what happens if the governor of Iowa resigns or if the governor is temporarily incapacitated.

School choice bonds and levies may also be on the ballot. Further details can be found here.

Sample ballots showing all the races and issues likely to appear on your ballot can be found on your county auditor's website.

Click here to view election results.