Timeline to Election Day '26
General Election – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
August 25, 2026 - First day absentee ballot requests can be accepted by the Polk County Election Office for the 2026 General Election.
October 14, 2026 - First day requested vote by mail ballots can be mailed to voters by the Election Office. Also, the first day that voters can vote early in person for the General Election.
October 19, 2026
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Final day that voters can request a ballot by mail. The completed request must physically be in the Election Office by 5 PM. Iowa law does not allow the election office to use postmarks.
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Final day the Election Office can mail ballots to voters.
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Pre-registration voter registration deadline. Voters can check their registration at any time: https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/search.aspx. Iowa also has same day voter registration at the polling places on election day where voters can register and vote by proving their identification and residency.
October 31, 2026 - Election Office will be open for early voting for 8 hours. Time to be determined
November 2, 2026 - Last day to vote early in person at the Polk County Election Office
November 3, 2026 - Election Day! Polls open 7 AM - 8 PM. Find your polling place - https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx
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SEE OUR CANDIDATES running in the November 2026 general election.
Additional Information
Confirm your polling station here and your NEW precinct number HERE.
And check your voter registration status HERE.
You don’t want any last-second surprises on November 3rd!
Additional Resources:
Polk County Elections Office:
2309 Euclid Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., except holidays
Phone (515) 286-3247
Fax (515) 286-2099
polkcountyiowa.gov/county-auditor/election/
Polk County Democrats
3839 Merle Hay Rd., Ste 209
Des Moines, IA 50310
Phone: (515) 318-7729
