How does my vote get counted—and certified—in Iowa?

Now that you’ve voted, how does your vote get counted? We drew a roadmap Iowa takes after each Election Day to certify its results.

You voted. You did your job. With a little patience we’ll have a result. Because there is so much attention on getting you to a precinct to fill out and turn in a ballot, the process for getting a vote total often goes unexamined. 

Today, as we wait for the results of the 2024 Election, Iowa Starting Line is going to take your ballot on a journey to the finish line.

When the Polls Close: The First Count

The polls opened at 7 a.m. And the count starts when they close at 8 p.m. Iowa code calls this a “public canvass,” a count of ballots that anyone can watch. 

Iowa relies on paper ballots so that records are preserved and results are repeatable. Our elections do not rely on internet-connected tabulators. Each tabulator is stored in secure locations when not in use and undergo accuracy tests during pre-election audits. And in order to get a ballot, an Iowa voter must present an ID at their precinct or enter their ID number on their request form for an absentee ballot.

When the polls close, precinct election officials produce a precinct-level report describing how each candidate and ballot proposition did. Once completed, they communicate the results to the election commissioner (often the county auditor). And they drive all the ballots and election equipment back to the commissioner who will maintain them for 22 months in the case of a federal election like this one. 

The Secretary of State then coordinates with the election commissioners across 99 counties and puts out an “unofficial canvass of election,” usually that same evening. This gives the public an early look at the election results. These are the results that the national news will run with, and they’re a reliable first look at our election.

But Iowa has a process for confirming the results of each election.

Board of Supervisors check the math

The week after Election Day, 99 county boards of supervisors meet separately to canvass the election results. This happens on the Monday or Tuesday after the election or November 12 (as the 11th is Veterans Day, a federal holiday). They will take stock of all the ballots counted towards the election. 

The supervisors will correct any obvious clerical errors and vote to certify a summary report prepared by the election commissioner. That will include the results of the election by precinct for each contest and public measure that appeared on the ballot of the election.

The information for how each of the precincts across the state did is then forwarded to the Secretary of State. 

Final destination: State canvassing board

The last step in the process happens over in Des Moines. There, the Executive Council of Iowa convenes. The Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Secretary of Agriculture and Auditor of the State all have a seat. These top officials are supposed to convene no later than 27 days after the election.

They review the results compiled by the Secretary of State and, if accurately tabulated, the board approves the canvass. 

And that’s the end…

Unfinished business…

It’s true that in Iowa’s recent past, we’ve had election recounts stretch for months. These are unlikely, but there are few hypotheticals worth considering.

A tie?  Iowa settles that by drawing lots. The name of each candidate is written on separate pieces of uniform paper and placed in a receptacle. With the board of canvassers watching, a member of the board draws a name out of the receptacle. That name is declared the winner.

General recounts? Candidates can request a recount from the election commissioner. They must request it before 5 p.m. on the third day following the county board’s canvass of the election or Nov. 15. 

Administrative recounts? If an election commissioner thinks there was an issue with voting equipment, an administrative recount can be conducted to check the precinct’s math. 

Election Audit? As if that wasn’t enough, after the election is done, the Iowa Secretary of State does a post-election audit. In each of Iowa’s 99 counties, a precinct is selected at random for a hand count. The hand count is matched against the machine tabulator’s total. In 2022 and 2023, hand counts and machine totals matched every time.