Iowa Resources for Voters with Disabilities

Helpful Quick Links

What are my rights as a voter with a disability in Iowa?

In Iowa, you have the right to the following as protected by federal law. Election staff must respect these rights:

Accessible voter registration
Accessible polling places
Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
Accessible, available, and operational voting systems, features
Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
Assistance from a person of choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent, or a candidate unless this person is your family member)
Election Staff trained to understand the rights above.

Who can register to vote?

To register in Iowa, you must be:

A citizen of the United States of America
At least 17 and will be turning 18 on or before Election Day
A resident of Iowa

If you are a student, unhoused, a survivor of intimate partner violence with related concerns, or living with a mental or physical impairment, you may still register and vote.

In Iowa, you may not register or vote if:

You have had your right to vote specifically removed by a court order, unless your right has been restored
You have been convicted of a felony. You are eligible to vote if your voting rights have been restored
You claim the right to vote elsewhere

Register to vote now if you are eligible!

What are my rights when registering to vote?

Federal law requires assistance in registering to vote from offices that provide public assistance or state-funded programs serving people with disabilities. Responsibilities include:

Providing voter registration forms
Assisting voters in completing the forms
Transmitting completed forms to the appropriate election official
All aspects of voter registration must be accessible

What are the different ways to vote in Iowa?

In person
- On election day
- At your county auditor’s office, starting 20 days before Election Day
Absentee
- By mail. If you have not returned your mail-in ballot by election day, you have the following options:
  - Take your voted ballot to the county auditor's office before the polls close on election day,
  - Surrender your voted ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot, or
  - Vote using provisional ballot at the polls if you cannot surrender your voted absentee ballot
- At a satellite location
While abroad as a citizen or military through an absentee ballot request
Provisional ballot at a polling place
Curbside at your polling location if you are unable to leave the vehicle

What are the ways to request an Absentee Ballot in Iowa?

You must complete an absentee ballot request form and return the original, signed form to your county auditor. The request form does not need to be witnessed or notarized. A written application for a mailed absentee ballot must be received by the voter's County Auditor no later than 5:00 p.m., 15 days before the election.

In order to receive an absentee ballot, you must provide the following information:

Name
Date of birth
Iowa residential address
Voter Verification Number (ID Number)
- Iowa Driver's License or Non-Operator ID Number OR
- Four digit Voter PIN located on the voter's Iowa Voter ID Card
The name or date of the election for which you are requesting an absentee ballot
Party affiliation - only required for Primary Elections, which are held in even numbered years
Signature

How is the Iowa mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?

If you have a vision impairment, you can call 888-SOS-VOTE (888-767-8683) or email support@sos.iowa.gov to receive accessible information and services.

What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in Iowa?

Federal law requires polling places to meet minimum compliance standards for individuals with special needs. If you want to check that your polling location meets these standards or find an alternative polling location, contact your local election official.

Curbside voting is available if you are unable to leave your vehicle or enter the polling location.

After showing a valid form of ID, Registrars of Voters from both parties will bring you a ballot and a privacy sleeve.
You must mark the ballot in front of them, but they must stand in a way that will not violate your right to a private vote.
It is advised to call ahead of time to notify them that you will be voting curbside.

An accessible ballot marking device is available at all polling places.

Voters use features on the AutoMARK or OVI such as a touch screen, an audio component, and/or a sip and puff element to select their candidates.
The device will then complete the ovals on the ballot. It also lets voters review and change their vote before the ballot is marked.

What are the rules of assistance for disabled voters in Iowa?

You may request assistance from a poll worker or receive assistance from a person of your choice (at home or at the polling location) with the following exceptions:
- your employer, an agent of your employer
- an officer or agent of your union
- a candidate on the ballot
You will be asked to sign a form showing you asked for help.
If you are not physically able to sign the forms, you can use a rubber stamp or mark to sign. You may also ask for assistance or have someone sign the form on your behalf as long as it is in your presence and with your permission.
A poll worker cannot force you to accept assistance.

How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in Iowa prior to Election Day?

Iowa uses four accessible voting machines. A PDF list of what is available in each county is available.

Iowa also offers video tutorials for each of the voting machines used in the state:

Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in Iowa?

Contact Disability Rights Iowa if you have an issue related to your disability while voting

Call 515-278-2502 or 800-779-2502
Relay 711
Fax 515-278-0539
Physical Address: 6667 Walnut Street in Des Moines, Iowa

You can also contact the State of Iowa's Elections Division in the following ways:

General Phone Number: 515-281-0145
Toll Free Phone Number: 1-888-SOS-VOTE (1-888-767-8683)
TTY: Call 711 followed by 515-281-0145
Fax Number: 515-281-4682
Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov

You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:

Online, through the form’s submission process - this is the fastest method.
By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints" at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
By mailing your form to:

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division
ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20530

For additional assistance, The National Network of ADA Centers can provide local contact information for other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources.

Additional Resources

If you have a vision impairment, you can call 888-SOS-VOTE (888-767-8683) or email support@sos.iowa.gov to receive accessible information and services.

If you have questions not answered in this guide, please contact your local election official or try the Iowa FAQs below.