Voter Registration

 The Iowa Secretary of State has made the official voter registration available online in a pdf format. You may print this online form and fill it out by hand, please be sure to sign the form before you send it to your county auditor.

If you would like a hard copy of any of the forms above, please call the Secretary of State's Office at 515-281-5760 or 888-SOS-VOTE (888-767-8683).

You may register to vote if:

  1. You are a citizen of the United States.
  2. You are a resident of Iowa.
  3. You will be at least 18 years old on or before election day.

NOTE: If you are 17½ years old, you may register to vote, but your registration will not be effective until your 18th birthday.

If You Move
 If you move within the county where you are registered to vote, you may change your address before the close of registration:

  • By notifying the county auditor in writing. Include your full name as it appears on the voter registration records, your old and new addresses, and your signature. If more than one person is submitting a change, each person must sign the notice.
  • By completing a new registration form.
  • By making the change in person at the county auditor's office or other registration sites.

How to Register

  • You can register to vote in person at:

1) The County Commissioner’s office for the county in which you reside;

2) a motor vehicle driver’s license station, including any ounty treasurer’s office that is participating in the county issuance of driver’s licenses; or

3) at any voter registration agency. Iowa Code § 48A.7 (2003).

  • You can register by mail as well by mailing, delivering, or having someone deliver a completed voter registration form to the county commissioner’s office. Iowa Code § 48A.8 (2003)
  • There are new rules for persons registering by mail who have never before voted in an election for federal office in the county of registration.

Close of Registration
October 23, 2004 is the last day to register to vote for the November 2, 2004 general election. A voter registration form will be considered on time if:

  • it is postmarked no later than October 18, 2004or
  • it is received by the county commissioner before five p.m. on October 23, 2004. Iowa Code § 48A.9 (2003).

Registration forms may also be submitted to registration agencies, driver’s license stations, and county treasurer’s offices participating in county issuance of driver’s licenses, and will be on time if received by five p.m., Saturday, October 23, 2004.

A person discharged from military service on or after October 23, 2004 may register on Election Day after presenting a copy of his or her discharge papers to a precinct election official. Iowa Code § 48A.5 (2003).