Accessible Voting in Iowa
For the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 General Election in Iowa
- In Iowa there may be changes to early voting days or hours.
- In Iowa, there is a question about citizenship and voting on the ballot.
- In Iowa, there may be changes to mail voting rules. Check the instructions carefully to be sure your ballot counts.
Voting Information
Visit your state Voting With Disabilities page
Phone: (515) 281-0145
Contact your local election office for polling places and other information.
Read the REV UP voting guide for your state
Register to vote
- Voter registration in Iowa
- Deadlines and information in 18 languages at vote.gov
Your rights
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to vote privately and independently, at an accessible voting location, on an accessible voting system.
Organizations that can help If you can't find the information you need at your state or local election office.
- Contact your local Center for Independent Living
- Contact your state National Disability Rights Network office.
- Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report any problems voting
Other websites for voting information
- REV UP Voting Guides for voting info and plain language definitions
- VoteRiders for Voter ID requirements
- Vote.gov for information about registering to vote
- Vote411.org for what’s on your ballot
Voting features in Iowa for voters with disabilities
- Ask your local election office if you can vote by mail for all elections.
- Ask about accessible vote-by-mail system
Self-advocacy! Ask your local election office about:
- Information in large print, audio, or Braille versions
- Curbside or drive-up voting.
- Ballot delivery to your home or a “ride to the polls” program
- How to practice using the accessible voting system
- Emergency voting options if you are hospitalized or ill
- How to get assistance voting
- Other services for voters with disabilities
Learn more about the laws that protect your rights
Early voting is voting in person before Election Day, which is usually less crowded than going to vote on Election Day itself. There are different kinds of early voting, so check the options available for you. They might include:
- vote centers where you can vote at any location in your jurisdiction
- super polling places where you are assigned a location
- voting at an elections office or satellite office
- in-person absentee, where you go to an elections office, get your mail ballot, and then mark and cast it in the office.
Early voting is called in-person absentee voting in Iowa.
October 16 through November 4, in-person absentee voting is available at your local commissioners' offices.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- All voters are asked to show a photo ID.
Learn what ID you can use at VoteRiders
Find an early voting center near you.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations.
- Same-day registration is available at all early voting locations.
When you vote in person on Election Day, you go to a voting center to mark and cast your ballot in person. Every in-person voting location is required to have accessible voting systems available.
Polling places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
- All voters are asked to show a photo ID.
Find your polling place.
- First-time voters are asked to show identification.
- Same-day registration is available at all Election Day voting locations.
You can drop off your mail ballot at your local elections office on Election Day.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in Iowa are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
AutoMARK
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on the front of the device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using an AutoMARK
- Short video from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 3:55)
- Video from NY City Board of Elections (YouTube 13:47)
Dominion ImageCast Precinct BMD
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen and audio tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed and then cast at a scanner.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Learn more about using the Dominion ICP
ES&S ExpressVote
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ExpressVote
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 1:53)
- Video from Michigan (You Tube 12:29)
- Information about ExpressVote from Pennsylvania
Unisyn OpenElect Voting Interface (OVI and OVI-VC)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
The OVI-VC is used in early voting centers.
Learn more about using the OVI
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:03 - no captions)
- OpenElect OVI product page from Unisyn
Unisyn OpenElect Freedom Vote Tablet (FVT)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
Learn more about using the Freedom Voting Tablet
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:47 - no captions)
- OpenElect FVT product page from Unisyn
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Voting by mail can be an accessible option for voters with disabilities. It lets you vote at home, so you can mark, verify and return a paper ballot privately and independently. Some states have emergency options if you are hospitalized or ill. |
Deadline to return your ballot:
Received by the close of polls on Election Day, November 5.
How to get your ballot
- All voters can request a ballot.
- All voters must request a ballot for each election.
To get your ballot you can:
- Request a ballot online.
- Download, print, and mail a request form.
- You must provide identification with your request form.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At your local elections office
Make sure your ballot counts! Remember...
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
If you are voting by mail for the first time, check the ID requirements carefully.
Postage is pre-paid so you don't need a stamp.
Return your ballot promptly. Postmarks don't count.
- Ask your local elections office who can return your ballot for you.
- If someone helped you, have them complete the form for assistants.
Learn about accessible voting by mail options in the next card.
Accessible voting by mail allows voters with disabilities to mark a mail-in ballot electronically, using their own technology and assistive tools.
To use accessible tools for voting by mail, typically voters:
- Download an electronic ballot to mark using personal technology
- Print the ballot and any signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
- Return it by mail or to a ballot drop off locatoin
Some states allow electronic return by email, fax, or a secure portal.
There is no statewide accessible vote by mail program in Iowa
Ask your local election office what options are available to help you vote by mail. For example:
- Home visits by election workers who can help you complete your vote by mail ballot.
Learn more about accessible voting options in Iowa