Vote Polk
Voting by mail is your safe, secure and reliable way to vote in November. Get started today to avoid delays and a rushed trip to the post office.
Vote from home in three easy steps:
Step One: Request Your Ballot
How to request a ballot:
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Find the Absentee Ballot Form online CLICK HERE
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Don’t have a printer? Email and we will mail you an ABR or call the Polk County Election Office at (515) 286-3247; the Elections Office is located at 120 2nd Avenue, Suite A, Des Moines, IA, 50309.
How to fill out an Absentee Ballot Request form:
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Have your Iowa Driver’s License handy.
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If you don’t have an Iowa Driver’s License, you will use your voter PIN. This is on the card sent by the Polk County Election Office and IS NOT your SSN or any other number. It is a 4-digit PIN number used mainly by those without an Iowa Driver’s License.
Mail your request:
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The deadline to request a ballot by mail is Saturday, October 24. Your request must physically be in the office by 5 p.m. Postmarks only count if postmarked October 19, 2020, or earlier.
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If you have a prepaid ABR, just drop it in the mail!
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No prepaid ABR? You can slip your printed ABR in an envelope and mail it or drop it off at the election office.
Step Two: Wait Until October to Receive Your Ballot
After you put your ABR in the mail, you can track its progress here: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/absentee/search. If you don’t see your ballot, contact your County Elections Office.
In the meantime, share with your friends how easy and safe it is to vote by mail.
Step Three: Vote & Mail Your Ballot
For more information on filling your ballot out correctly, visit the Iowa Secretary of State https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/absfaq.html
For more information, including resources on voting as a college student, member of the military, or as a citizen living overseas, visit https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/county-auditor/election/faq/
Important Dates to Remember:
Monday, July 6th – First day to request an absentee ballot be mailed to your home.
Monday, October 5th – First day requested absentee ballots can be mailed to voters who have requested them. First day of in-person early voting in the Polk County Election Office.
Saturday, October 24th – Absentee ballot requests MUST be received by the Polk County Election Office by 5 p.m. if you want a ballot mailed to you.
Saturday, October 24th – Pre-registration Deadline for the General Election. If you miss the deadline, Iowa still has same-day voter registration! You will need to bring proof of identification and residency for same-day registration or bring a neighbor to attest for you.
Tuesday, November 3rd – General Election Day
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Absentee ballots may be delivered to the county auditor until 9:00 p.m.
Resources:
Polk County Elections Office:
George Paletta Building
120 2nd Avenue, Suite A
Des Moines, IA 50309
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays
Phone (515) 286-3247
Fax (515) 286-2099
polkcountyiowa.gov/county-auditor/election/
Polk County Democrats
3839 Merle Hay Rd. Ste 209
Des Moines, IA 50310
Phone: (515) 314-5762
Not in Polk County? Find your County Auditor’s office here: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditorslist.html