Elections 101: Why voters should pre-register to vote
Elections 101 will be a weekly series of articles offering a variety of information regarding elections in Iowa and Allamakee County prior to this year’s June 4 Primary Election. The information is being provided courtesy of Allamakee County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer.
In Iowa, like many other states, pre-registering to vote is an important first step in the voting process. Here are some reasons why pre-registration is important.
1. A Voter Registration Acknowledgment Card is mailed to the voter. The card confirms the voter’s precinct and polling place. Iowa law requires a voter to vote in the precinct where they live on Election Day. Not being pre-registered and/or showing up to the wrong polling location on Election Day can cost the voter extra time and frustration, especially if the voter allowed him/herself limited time to vote - either on their way to work or over their lunch hour or close to the time the polls close.
2. Pre-registration streamlines the voter process on Election Day. When a voter is pre-registered, their voter record is already in the system at the polling place, which reduces wait times and administrative obstacles and makes the voting experience more positive and convenient for the voter and the precinct election officials. A pre-registered voter typically shows acceptable I.D. to election officials, verifies their name, date-of-birth and address, signs the required eligibility form and votes their ballot.
3. Young, first-time voters may be more likely to vote if they are pre-registered. In Iowa, individuals can register when 17 years old, but cannot vote until they are 18, with one exception. Voters who will be 18 on or before the November General election can vote in the June Primary when still age 17. The voting process can seem intimidating for first-time voters, but being pre-registered, young voters can be assured the process will be smooth at the polls: show acceptable I.D., verify name, date-of-birth and address, sign the required eligibility form and vote their ballot.
How to register
Iowa law allows for a few different ways by which an eligible voter can register to vote, or a voter who is already registered can update their voter registration. To complete the pre-registration process, eligible individuals can:
1. Visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website https://sos.iowa.gov/ to register online or print a registration form to be completed and returned to their county auditor’s office. When registering online, voters will need their Iowa DOT-issued driver’s license or non-driver I.D.
2. Visit the Allamakee County Elections website at https://allamakeecountyelections.iowa.gov/ and click Register to Vote to find the link to the registration form. Print, complete and return the form to the Auditor’s office.
3. When renewing a driver’s license, say “yes” when asked if you wish to register to vote. The Auditor’s office is notified electronically via the DOT system.
4. Stop by the Auditor’s office to complete a registration form during regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Changing voter registration address
Voters who have moved should make sure their voter registration address is updated, for the same reasons listed above: they will know their correct polling place and enjoy a smooth process at the polls. Any voter needing to update their voter registration address must follow the same registration process as first-time registrants. The Auditor’s office will update the address and mail a new acknowledgment card.
What if you miss the pre-registration deadline?
Election Day Registration, or EDR, also known as same-day registration, is an option in Iowa for those who miss the pre-registration deadline or recently moved and did not update their voter registration address. EDR allows eligible individuals to register to vote and cast their ballot on Election Day, right at the polling place.
Key requirements for Election Day Registration
• Eligibility - The registrant must be a U.S. citizen, live in the precinct where registering, and be 18 years old.
• Proof of Identity and Residence - The most common proof of identity and residence is a current and valid DOT-issued Iowa driver’s license or non-driver ID. If the ID used does not show the voter’s current address, the voter will need to provide other proof of residence, such as a bank statement or utility bill issued in the last 45 days.
Other acceptable IDs and proofs of residence can be found on the Allamakee County Elections website on the Register to Vote page. If a voter cannot prove both identity and residence for the EDR process, another registered voter in the same precinct can attest for the EDR voter by providing their ID and signing an oath swearing to the identity and/or residence of the person registering.
• Registration Form - Once all required information is provided, Precinct Election Officials will enter the voter’s information and print a Voter Registration form for the voter to sign, followed by the voter signing their eligibility form and voting a regular ballot.
What if an EDR voter cannot prove both identity and residence?
If a voter using the EDR process cannot prove both identity and residence, and there is no one to attest for the voter, the voter will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. Precinct Election Officials will give instruction to the voter to place their provisional ballot into an envelope and seal it. These ballots are not fed into the vote counting equipment because the voter could not yet prove they are qualified to vote. The envelope has identifying information on the envelope as to the voter’s name and reason they voted the provisional ballot.
Precinct Election Officials return the Provisional ballots to the Auditor on Election Night and the Auditor secures these ballots. The provisional voter has until noon the Monday following the election to provide the missing proof of identity or residence to the Auditor’s office for their ballot to be counted.
The Absentee and Special Voter Precinct (ASVP) Board would return to the Auditor’s office at noon the Monday following the election to either open and count any provisional ballots, if proper documentation was provided, or reject the ballots for lack of documentation. Voters whose ballots are rejected are notified with a letter signed by the ASVP Board and the Auditor.
Be Voter Ready
The pre-registration deadline for the June 4, 2024 Primary Election is 5 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer encourages everyone to be Voter Ready by pre-registering to vote or making sure your voter registration address is updated prior to this deadline to ensure the polling place process on Election Day will go smoothly and prevent possible delays and frustration. If needed, the Election Day Registration process can be used and allows a voter to vote a regular ballot on Election Day as long as all required documentation can be provided.
Call the Auditor’s office at 563-568-3522 with any questions about voter pre-registration, or to confirm the address on your voter registration is updated if you have moved. Auditor Beyer also encourages voters to utilize the new election website at https://allamakeecountyelections.iowa.gov/ or by scanning the QR code (printed below) for the election website with your cell phone camera for important election dates, news items and sample ballots.
