Voting In Person in Iowa

Voting Early in Iowa

To vote early in Iowa, you may vote in person at a satellite location or by absentee ballot at the county auditor’s office.

Early/Satellite Voting: Satellite voting sites are often made available by petition before elections. Your local county auditor is your definitive source for satellite options near you. Current Poweshiek County early/satellite options include:
- Thursday, Oct. 17, Grinnell College Campus, Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Room 101, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 21, Drake Community Library (930 Park St.), Caulkins Community Room, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Absentee Voting: In Iowa, you may also cast absentee votes in person at your county auditor’s office before an election. Information about absentee voting in person in Iowa is available on the Secretary of State website.

Voting in Iowa on the Day of the Election

Voting in Iowa is a busy day! Make sure to plan ahead.

Precincts and Polling Locations: Voting location depends on your address. To find your polling place for election day, please visit VoterReady/Vote at the Polls.
Voting ID Requirements: Iowa voters are required to show an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID or veteran’s ID, tribal ID/document, or Iowa voter ID card at the polls before they vote. A voter without one of the listed forms of ID may have the voter’s identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents. Voters without the necessary ID or an attester will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for General Elections). More information about voter ID requirements can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State’s webpage - Voter ID FAQ.

Students will receive their proof of residency in their student email account prior to the election. You will be allowed to provide this proof digitally at the polling location.

Curbside Voting and Other Accessibility Options: The state of Iowa offers several accessibility options including curbside voting. For more information about voting in Iowa for voters with disabilities, visit VoterReady/Voters with Disabilities as well as the Iowa Secretary of State’s webpage.
Transportation to Polling Sites: As a courtesy, Grinnell College offers campus transportation to local polling sites for general elections. On voting day, a shuttle will depart from the Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC) on the half hour, running from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information about shuttle details, contact Community Partnerships, Planning, and Research.
Employee Voting Leave Policy: The College voting leave policy is described in the Staff Handbook as follows:

Grinnell College encourages employees to fulfill their civic responsibilities by participating in elections. In the event an employee does not have sufficient time outside of their regularly scheduled working hours to vote in an election, the employee may schedule time during work. If the employee cannot vote prior to work or after work because of their work schedule, they need to discuss this with their supervisor. The employee’s supervisor will then designate the period of time that the employee may be away from work to vote.

Per Iowa's voting law, employees who are eligible to vote and who do not have three (3) consecutive hours during the time the polls are open in which to vote, are entitled to time off from work to vote. The employer is required to give time off only for the portion of time that is necessary to give the employee a full three (3) consecutive hours of non-working time during the poll’s opening hours.

Time should be taken at the beginning or end of the regular work schedule. Time spent voting may be designated as paid time and must be entered into the payroll system.

Grinnell College Staff Handbook, Benefits; Section D: Leave Programs — Voting Leave

If you have questions concerning this policy, please contact Human Resources at 269-4818.