Iowa General Election ★ November 3, 2026
Make a Plan to Vote
Check your registration, choose how to vote, and know what to bring.
October 19
Advance voter registration deadline
October 19
5:00 p.m.
Deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot
November 3
Election Day
Polls open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Register to Vote
Register online, by mail, or at your county auditor’s office.
Advance registration:
October 19
- Online: by 11:59 p.m.
- In person: by 5 p.m.
- By mail: postmarked by October 19 or received by 5 p.m.
Vote Early
Vote in person at your county auditor’s office October 14–November 2, or request a mailed absentee ballot.
Mailed ballots must reach your county auditor by 8 p.m. on November 3.
Vote on Election Day
Go to the polling place for your current address and bring an accepted form of ID.
Tuesday, November 3
7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Not Registered by October 19? Eligible Iowans can still register and vote during in-person early voting or on Election Day with acceptable proof of identity and residence. See same-day registration requirements.
Complete Iowa Voting Information
Voting Resources
Voting Assistance: Contact Your County Auditor
Official information from the Iowa Secretary of State | Dates and times are Central Time | Updated October 7, 2026
ACE in the Community
ACE in the Community
ACE joined Spirit of ’76 – Iowa Celebrates America250! at the Iowa State Fair, August 13–23. At ACE’s exhibit, 1,782 fairgoers took a quiz featuring sample questions from the U.S. citizenship civics test and explored information about voting rights, elections, and voter registration.
The Iowa Secretary of State presented ACE with a certificate recognizing its partnership and commitment “to helping Iowans get registered and engaged in the democratic process.”
Legislative News
Iowa Establishes Seal of Civic Excellence
In 2026, Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2231, establishing the Iowa Seal of Civic Excellence. The program will recognize high school students who demonstrate excellence in civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions. ACE supported the passage of this legislation. Learn more about the Iowa Seal of Civic Excellence.
Civics Test Requirement Begins in 2026-27
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Iowa students must receive a passing score on the state civics test as a condition of graduation. The Iowa Department of Education has released the test and implementation resources for schools. Learn more about the US Citizenship Civics Test and Iowa’s High School Graduation Requirement.
Social Studies News
New Iowa Academic Standards for Social Studies were adopted by the State Board of Education on Jan. 15, 2026.
The changes are detailed for k-12th grades on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. You can find the addional information here.
Media Interviews
Professor Josephine Gittler, founder of the Alliance for Civic Education of Iowa, has been spreading the news of the importance of civics education and engagement. Check out these interviews.
