LET’S REGISTER!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Am I Eligible to Register?

Youth can register to vote when they are 17 years old, although you must be 18 years old to vote in an election. There is one exception – if you will be 18 years old by Election Day (November 3, 2026), you can vote in both the primary election (June 2) and the general election (November 3) that year.

To be eligible to vote in Iowa, you must be:

17 years of age or older
A U.S. citizen
A resident in the county where you are registered
Students attending colleges/universities may choose whether to register at their student address or at their home address

If you are a convicted felon and have completed your parole, then your voting rights are automatically restored and you can register and legally vote.

Check Your Voter Registration Status

If you have already registered, you can check your voter registration status at the Secretary of State’s website HERE. This will also provide your precinct and polling locations for both the primary and general elections.

If your voter registration status is marked “active”, you are good to go.

What if my status is not marked as “active”? If your voter registration status is marked as “inactive”, you should be Ok, as long as you vote in the next general election. If your voter registration status is marked as something else, such as “incomplete” or “unconfirmed”, you will need to contact the Johnson County Auditor’s Office (319-356-6004) and provide them with some additional information to get your status changed to “active”.

When you check your voter registration status, make sure you are registered under your current address and current legal name. Voter registrations must be updated when you change your address or your legal name.

Registering Online

You have the option to register online, but only if you have a current Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Driver ID. To register online, use the form available on the website for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). This form can be used to newly register or to update your address or legal name. The pre-registration deadline for online registration is October 19 at 11:59 pm.

Using the Voter Registration Form

You can register to vote or change your voting registration by printing out and completing a Voter Registration Form (dated 6/29/26 or later) then mailing it to the Auditor’s Office or dropping it off at the Auditor’s Office during business hours. You can also use the after-hours slot on the front of the building to drop off your form or come into the office during open hours to complete the form.

Mail to:
Johnson County Auditor
913 S Dubuque St.
Iowa City, Iowa, 52240.

Business hours:
8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Iowa Has Same-Day Voter Registration

You can register to vote, or change your address or legal name, at the polls on Election Day. That said, we highly recommend that you preregister before the election deadline, so any problems can be identified and corrected before you go to the polls. After the deadline has passed, you can still register and vote, but under the rules for same-day registration.

For same-day voter registration, a voter ID (government-issued picture ID) is required as proof of identity and it must be current. In addition, if the picture ID being used does not have your current address, then you will need proof of address. This proof must include your name and current address, must be current within 45 days, and may be in electronic or paper format.

What if I don’t have proof of identity or proof of address? For same-day voter registration, you can have someone sign an Attestation Form attesting to your identity or address. The Attestor must be a registered voter in your precinct and must show a valid ID.

Protecting Privacy for Vulnerable Populations

Vulnerable populations (for example, victims of domestic violence) can register without their information becoming public through the Safe at Home Program.

Proof of Identity

Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID – temporary paper license is accepted
Out of state Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID
U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID
U.S. Passport
Tribal ID Card/Document
A student ID can be used only if it has an expiration date.

What if I don’t have any of these?

If you don’t have documents to prove your identity when doing same-day registration, you can use an Attestor. An Attestor is a person who is a registered voter in your precinct. They will show their ID then fill out and sign a form attesting that you are who you say you are.

Proof of Address

Proof of address must be valid within 45 days and can be in electronic or paper format. EXAMPLES:

Residential lease, including a student dorm contract
Utility bill, including a cell phone bill
Bank statement
Paycheck
Government check or other government document