The filing period for candidates has closed, debates are underway and the June 2 primary for dozens of Iowa offices is nearly here.
State offices, including contests for governor, secretary of state and attorney general, will be on the ballot, along with a U.S. Senate race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. All four of Iowa’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are also up, as are all 100 Iowa House seats and 25 of the 50 Iowa Senate seats. County offices are also on the ballot.
Winners in the primary will move on to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot as their party’s candidates for those offices.
As the primary nears, now is a good time to review the candidates and review your registration status. Here’s how you can register to vote in Iowa.
How do I register to vote? What if I’m not registered in Iowa yet?
Iowans can register to vote ahead of the June 2 primary online on the Iowa Department of Transportation’s website or by downloading a form from the Secretary of State and mailing it to their local county auditor.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Iowa?
To be listed on the voter rolls for the primary election, you must register online by 11:59 p.m. on May 18. If you’re registering by mail, your form must be postmarked by May 18. But eligible voters can also register on Election Day.
How do I register on Election Day in Iowa?
Iowa allows voters to register on Election Day at the polling location corresponding to their addresses. To do so, voters must prove their identity and address. A valid Iowa driver’s license with the voters’ current address can meet both requirements.
Other forms of proof of ID include:
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 previous 45 days:
Do I have to be a registered Republican or Democrat to vote in Iowa’s primaries?
Iowans have to cast primary ballots for candidates from their registered party. So, a registered Republican will only vote for the Republican candidates in races, and a Democrat will only vote for the Democrats’ candidates.
Voters can change party affiliation before May 18 by sending in an updated voter registration form, or at their precincts by following the Election Day registration process.
Can I check my Iowa voter registration?
Iowans can check whether they are registered to vote at voterready.iowa.gov.
Des Moines Register reporter Kate Kealey contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa’s primary elections are June 2. When is voter registration?
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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