Voting in Iowa, 2026

Every date, in order

1. Wed, Oct 14 · passed
   Early voting begins
2. Mon, Oct 19 · passed
   Last day for mail ballot applications
   Requests for a mailed absentee ballot must be received by Monday October 19, 2026, 15 days before Election Day. In-person requests can be received up to one day before Election Day.¹
3. Mon, Nov 2 · 6 days
   Early voting ends
   In-person absentee voting runs from Wednesday October 14 through Monday November 2, 2026.¹
4. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
   Election Day; Registration deadline; Mail ballots must arrive
   Voters can register and vote at the polls on Election Day, and the deadline to register in advance is Monday October 19, 2026. Absentee ballots must be received before 8 p.m. on Election Day.¹
5. Mon, Nov 16 · 20 days
   County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
   Counties canvass within 13 days of the election, by November 16.²
6. Mon, Nov 30 · 34 days
   State canvass; State certification
   The statewide canvass must be complete no later than 27 days after the election, November 30, and waits for any office in a recount.²
7. After certification
   Deadline to contest the result
   A contest for a seat in Congress must be filed within two days after the state canvass, and contests for state offices have their own windows counted from the canvass or the announcement of results. For congressional candidates, a special judicial panel is convened, and it must issue a decision by December 8, 2026 (Iowa Code § 60.5).³