What should I know about voting?
EMBARC volunteers register voters for the 2020 election
Every four years, presidential elections dominate the news. But U.S. communities hold elections each year. This November 2, vote for your city council, school board, and municipal (city-level) positions. Fewer people vote in local elections, so you can make a huge impact in your community by voting and by telling friends and family about voting.
What are we voting for?
The offices up for election change each year. We vote for municipal positions in odd-numbered years, like 2019, 2021, or 2023. Almost all cities hold school board and city council elections every two years. Because there are multiple people on these boards, some of them will appear on the ballot each election. For example, Des Moines City Council has seven seats, and three of them will be voted on this November. Depending on where you live, you may also vote for mayor, public college boards if you live near a college, or other city- or county-level offices.
Who is able to vote?
To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Iowa, at least 18 years old by Nov. 2, and not ruled incapable of voting by a court. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony can vote once their felony sentence has been completed. Learn more at restoreyourvote.iowa.gov.
How can I register to vote?
You must register before voting. Until October 22, you can register online or through the mail. Register online at www.Iowadot.gov. Registering online requires a social security number and a driver’s license. If you do not have these, you can still register by sending this form to your county auditor’s office. For Polk County, mail your form to 111 Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309. For Black Hawk County, mail your form to 316 E 5th St., Waterloo, IA 50703. The county auditor will send you a voter registration card to bring when you vote.
You can also register on November 2 at your polling place, even if you miss the October 22 deadline. You will need identification and proof of address. You can bring your state driver’s license, a state ID, a U.S. passport, an ID card from your employer, or a student ID to prove your identity. Proof of address can be a lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any document from the government that says your address.
How can I vote?
You can vote in three ways:
Vote early: Starting October 13, you can vote at your county auditor’s office. You will need either your voter registration card or ID and proof of address.
Vote absentee: You can vote by mail by requesting a ballot from the county auditor’s office. Mail an absentee ballot request form to your county auditor. You must send your request by October 18. They will mail you a ballot. You can either mail your completed ballot back to the county auditor or take it to their office.
Vote on November 2: Between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., visit your local polling site to vote. You can find your polling site at www.sos.iowa.gov. Bring your voter registration card or ID and proof of address. You will wait in line to get your ballot, fill out your ballot, and scan it in a machine. Staff at the polls can help you, but they can not help you fill out your ballot. If you are in line at 8 p.m., they have to let you vote, even if you remain in line after closing time.
What if I work November 2?
If you cannot vote November 2, you can still vote early or vote absentee. If you work all day November 2, you are also entitled to three hours to vote. If you do not have three free hours off work between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., you can write a request to your employer and they are required to give you three hours of paid time off under Iowa law (source).
Who will be on the ballot?
Because we will vote for local offices, the candidates depend on where you live. You can find information on local government websites or in local newspapers.
If you live in Des Moines or Waterloo, we have found the Des Moines City Council candidates, the Des Moines School Board candidates, and all candidates in Black Hawk County.
Voting ensures that your government represents you and serves your interest. Please vote this November to ensure your government serves the refugee and immigrant community.
EDITOR’S NOTE OCT. 14 2021: This blog post has been updated to correct information regarding who is eligible to vote in Iowa.