This story was originally published Nov. 4, 2019, and has been edited and updated.
While Iowa’s voter ID law may have put hurdles in the way of casting a ballot, county auditors and poll workers are still committed to helping all eligible citizens vote on Election Day.
Iowa’s voter ID law is fully rolled out, and all polling locations will require voters to show some form of ID.
What can I use for Voter ID in Iowa?
In Iowa, voters are required to provide one of the following forms of identification, according to Iowa’s Voter Ready website:
- Iowa driver’s license (not expired more than 90 days)
- Iowa non-operator ID (not expired more than 90 days)
- US passport (not expired)
- US military ID or veteran ID (not expired)
- Tribal ID card/document (must be signed, with photo, not expired)
- Iowa Voter Identification Card (must be signed)
That last option, a Voter Identification Card, is provided automatically by the county auditor to each voter who does not have either an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID. If you don’t already have one, request an Iowa Voter ID Card by contacting your county auditor’s office. You can find your county auditor’s office here.
What if I forget my ID?
A voter without one of the above forms of ID may have the voter’s identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents.
If your photo ID does not contain your current address, you may use another document (paper or electronic format) to prove where you live if it contains your name and current address and is current within 45 days. The following are acceptable proofs of residence:
- Residential lease
- Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check or other government document
- Property tax statement
If you 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 the statements being made are true. Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud, a class D felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,245 and up to 5 years in prison.
