How to vote on Election Day

Voters line up on the 2nd floor of the Memorial Union Oct. 26.

Tyrus Pavicich

Iowa’s new voter ID laws might make the prospect of voting seem daunting, but Iowa State students only need their phones to register.

In order to participate in the general election, registered and unregistered voters will need to attend their precinct polling location between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Iowa’s new voter ID laws are in partial effect for the 2018 midterms, meaning for the first time, voters registering on Election Day will need to legally verify their identity before casting a ballot.

For prospective voters who haven’t yet registered, it will be necessary to do so at a polling place before voting. Registration requires a valid form of photo ID alongside proof of their residency in the same precinct as the polling place— a state issued ID card or driver’s license will fulfill both criteria, as long as the address listed on the card is valid for the polling place. Students are also able to use the “Voter Reg Address” tab on AccessPlus for verification during registration.

Voters who have registered will not need a valid form of identification to vote, as it’s possible to sign an oath of identity swearing that they’re not misrepresenting themselves. This special rule is only in place for the 2018 election, and subsequent elections will require voters to bring one of the several accepted forms of identification with them.

The Secretary of State’s website lists seven acceptable forms of identification, including the voter ID cards mailed to registered voters, a state-issued driver’s license or ID, U.S. passport or a military, veteran’s or tribal ID, which Secretary of State Paul Pate said should cover most Iowa residents.

The Secretary of State’s website offers a tool that can be used to check current registration status at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/. In order to find your precinct’s relevant polling place, visit https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/.