Welcome! Everything you need to know about voting and how to get registered in one easy place.
Voting Resource Center
Ways to Vote
To Vote Early In-Person
To Vote By Mail
You DON'T need an excuse to vote early in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, or South Dakota. To vote early in-person you must:
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Be registered to vote
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Find your County Auditor's office address and hours (links here)
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Bring your ID* with you to cast your ballot
County Auditor's offices are open to vote early until the day before the election. You can vote early for both Primaries and General Elections.
*Acceptable forms of ID include:
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Driver's License
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State ID
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College ID
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County/City ID
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School ID
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Hospital/Care Facility Record
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Military ID
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Tribal ID
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U.S. Passport
South Dakota and Nebraska are states that don't require excuses to mail-in. To mail in vote:
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Be registered to vote
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Your state may require a Mail-In Vote application, either deliverable by mail or by dropping it off in person at your County Auditor's Office. South Dakota requires a letter with specific information to request a Mail-In Ballot. Nebraska allows applications to be delivered by fax and email.
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You'll receive your ballot in the mail within 2 weeks with instructions on how to fill it out.
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To return your ballot, mail it back to your County Auditor's office. Some states allow you to drop it off in person at the County Auditor's office until polls close on election day. Nebraska has designated drop off boxes.
Some states have deadlines for when a ballot must be posted by in order to be counted. Application links and other information regarding each state can be found [below].
To Vote On Election Day
Bring your ID and Voter Registration Card.
Voting lines can be long, so bring water, snacks, and a friend! Every voice matters, let's exercise that right together!
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Find your polling place! Most polling places are open 8am to 8pm. Check your polling place's hours!
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Be registered to vote OR you can register to vote at your polling place! You will need to provide proof of residence (see below)
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Bring your ID and Voter Registration card to receive your ballot (see your state's details below for other ways to prove residency on election day, including "vouching" or "attesting"
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Cast your vote!
2026 IS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THIS ELECTION DECIDES MANY STATE AND LOCAL OFFICES AS WELL AS U.S. SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
How to Register to Vote
*Some states have pre-registration for 17 year old's who will be of voting age, check your state below.
**All states require you bring your ID with you when you vote.
Federally, you need:
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To be a U.S. Citizen
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To be 18+ years old on voting day*
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Proof of Residence in the state you are voting in
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Proof of Identity, such as an ID, Driver's License, and/or a Social Security Card**
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Not be currently incarcerated
You can register online, by mail, or in person before you vote. To register in person, be sure to bring someone who is registered in your zip code to verify you live there or mail with your address on it.
Voting Post-Incarceration
Previously convicted of a felony? You may have your right to vote restored! If you are not currently incarcerated. Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota are all among states that have restored to some degree. Check individual state links below or check out https://campaignlegal.org/restoreyourvote.
Voting While Houseless
When you register to vote, you must provide your current residence. This presents a huge barrier for unhoused folks, but depending on the state, there's ways to legally fulfill this even if you don't pay rent or own a house such as having someone to attest that you live where you indicate, specifically when registering on election day. Being unhoused does not always mean you cannot vote. See your state's details below for a list of documents and ways to prove residency.
WARNING: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE PASSAGE OF THE SAVE ACT (H.R.22)
The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship when you register to vote. An ID, Driver's License, or SSN Number WILL NOT be acceptable proof of citizenship unless accompanied by a birth certificate or passport and the names on each document must be identical. If you have changed your name for any reason--marriage, gender identity, adoption, etc.-- it will be difficult to register to vote, and in some cases impossible. The SAVE Act has passed the US House of Representatives, and is awaiting discussion in the senate. If you do not support the passage of the SAVE Act, CONTACT YOUR SENATOR TODAY. Click Here to find your senator and their policies.
Voting Links by State
Primaries:
Deadline to Register to Vote:
Early In-Person Voting Dates:
Primary Election Day, All Ballots Due:
General Election
Deadline Register to Vote:
Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot:
Early In-Person Voting Dates:
5/18/2026
5/13/2026 - 6/1/2026
6/2/2026
10/19/2026
10/19/2026
10/16/2026 - 11/2/2026
Helpful Links:
See Iowa's Pre-Registration Policy
Check whether you're registered
Print this to register by mail
Find your County Auditor's Office
Iowa is a state that limits ways to prove residency to specific documents. These documents can be difficult to keep if you're unhoused, the victim of a natural disaster, or a victim of theft. This proves to be a huge barrier for many Iowans. The address on these documents must match the precinct you are voting in. Documents to prove residency include:
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Your ID (with current address)
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A copy of your residential lease
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Any utility bill (including phone bill)
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A bank statement
From the Iowa Secretary of State website: "If you are voting on Election Day and cannot prove who you are and where you live with the documents listed above, a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. Both you and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing that the statements being made are true." This is incredibly useful for unhoused folks, and victims of natural disasters and theft!
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A Paycheck (with your address on it)
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A government check or other government document
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A property tax statement
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026