(SBA) — September is National Voter Registration Month, giving Woodbury County residents an opportunity to check their registration information and prepare for the upcoming general election.
The National Association of Secretaries of State established National Voter Registration Month in 2002 as a nonpartisan effort to encourage eligible citizens to register and participate in elections. This year, National Voter Registration Day will be observed Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Iowa’s 2026 General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters will select candidates for federal, state, county and township offices. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The deadline to pre-register for the general election is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s election calendar. However, Iowa allows eligible residents who miss the deadline to register and vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day.
To register in Iowa, a person must be a United States citizen, an Iowa resident and at least 17 years old. A person must be 18 on or before Election Day to vote in the general election. Individuals may not claim the right to vote in another location, have been declared mentally incompetent to vote by a court or remain disqualified because of a felony conviction unless their voting rights have been restored.
Residents may register online through the Iowa Department of Transportation if they have an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator identification card. They may also complete a paper voter-registration form and return it to the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office.
Voters should submit an updated registration if they have changed their name, moved to a different address or want to change their political affiliation. Registration information cannot be updated by telephone.
Residents registering at the polls on Election Day must go to the polling place assigned to their current address and provide proof of identity and residence. A valid Iowa driver’s license displaying the voter’s current address can satisfy both requirements.
Other acceptable forms of identification include an Iowa non-operator ID, out-of-state driver’s license, U.S. passport, military or veterans ID, tribal identification, employer-issued photo ID or a photo identification card issued by an Iowa high school or college.
If the identification does not contain the voter’s current address, the voter may present a paper or electronic document showing their name and address. Acceptable documents include a residential lease, utility or cellphone bill, bank statement, paycheck, government document or property-tax statement. The document generally must be current within 45 days. A registered voter from the same precinct may also attest to another voter’s identity and residence when the required documents are unavailable. Additional information is available through the Iowa Secretary of State’s Election Day guide.
Absentee-ballot request forms are now being accepted for the Nov. 3 election. The Woodbury County Auditor must receive a completed request form by 5 p.m. Oct. 19 for a ballot to be mailed. In-person absentee voting and the mailing of requested ballots may begin Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The deadline for in-person absentee voting at the Auditor’s Office is 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Completed absentee ballots must reach the Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Additional instructions and request forms are available on the Woodbury County absentee-voting webpage.
Woodbury County reported 60,317 registered voters as of Aug. 18. That total included 23,345 Republicans, 20,359 voters registered with no party, 16,105 Democrats and 508 voters with other affiliations. Party registration does not restrict a voter’s choices in the general election.
Residents can check their registration status and find their assigned polling place at VoterReady.Iowa.gov. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office also provides short videos explaining the voting process at votingprocess.iowa.gov and educational information about election administration at elections101.iowa.gov.
Registration forms may also be obtained from the Woodbury County Auditor and Elections Office, located in Room 103 of the Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas St. in Sioux City. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at 712-279-6465.
