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UpdateIowaSaturday, October 31, 2026

Early voting in 2026 midterms broke the 2022 record

More than 46 million Americans voted early as of October 30, surpassing the prior midterm high.

Reporting by
KWQC News (Quad Cities / Davenport)
“Early voting sets midterms record, breaking 2022 mark”, Saturday, October 31, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

Of those early voters, 43.9% are registered Democrats, 31.3% registered Republicans, and 24.8% have no party affiliation. Overall turnout is shaping up to match 2018, when participation hit 53%, the highest midterm rate since 1914, according to UF professor Michael McDonald. The Cook Political Report shifted 12 House races toward Democrats on October 30 and lists 18 House toss-ups and seven Senate toss-ups in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.1

45.9 million
Americans who voted early in 20221
43.9%
of early voters who are registered Democrats1
What it means in Iowa

What this means for Iowa voters

In-person absentee voting in Iowa runs through Monday, November 2, 2026.2 Absentee ballots must be received before 8 p.m. on Election Day.2

Key dates in Iowa

Election Day in 2 days
  1. Wed, Oct 14 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Mon, Oct 19 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  3. Tue, Nov 3 · 2 days
    Election Day; Registration deadline; Mail ballots must arrive
  4. Mon, Nov 16 · 15 days
    County/Local certification
  5. Mon, Nov 30 · 29 days
    State certification

Every date in Iowa, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Iowa · Oct 29
Nearly 90% of absentee ballots in Iowa had been returned by late October
Reporting by KCCI
Iowa · Oct 29
Iowa early voting entered final week before November 3 election
Reporting by Little Village Magazine
The answers behind this
Mail and early votingVoting in Iowa, 2026Who certifies the election in Iowa, and by when?How does an election for Congress get certified, and when is the winner official?

Explore this issue

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Sources

  1. KWQC News (Quad Cities / Davenport), https://kwqc.com/2026/10/30/early-voting-sets-midterms-record-breaking-2022-mark · Saturday, October 31, 2026
  2. Vote.org, Iowa Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/iowa/

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