The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing the boundaries of what a typical general election looks like. With Iowa’s spike in COVID-19 cases, Johnson County auditor Travis Weipert encourages voters to cast mail-in ballots if they can to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Whether this is your first time voting in an election or you are returning to the polls, The Daily Iowan has curated a guide to help voters know the ins and outs of voting in the 2020 election. Read it in print here.
Voters can register to vote ahead of Election Day up until Oct. 24. Otherwise, voters can register on Election Day. To do that, voters must provide valid ID and proof of Iowa residence. An out-of-state driver’s license does count as a valid ID.
“It’s your right to vote and we really encourage that people vote early because it keeps people safe. If we can get as many people voting early or by mail it would be greatly appreciated,” Travis Weipert, Johnson County auditor said.
Hover over the polling locations for Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty to see the address.
Check the Johnson County website for the full list of polling places in the county.
Voters who wish to vote early can cast their vote in-person at these locations during their designated times and dates.
Clear Creek Amana West Campus Building
331 W. Marengo Rd., Tiffin
Monday, October 12, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Swisher Public Library
72 2nd St. SE
Tuesday, October 13, 2 – 6 p.m.
Coralville Public Library
1401 5th St., Coralville
Wednesday, October 14, Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Solon Public Library
320 W. Main St., Solon
Wednesday, October 14, 2 – 6 p.m.
North Liberty Community Library
520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty
Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, 1 – 4 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St.
Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, October 26 through Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, October 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Iowa Memorial Union
125 N. Madison St., Iowa City, Hubbard Lounge
Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Click to learn more about the candidates running in national, state, and local elections.
Related: Meet the 2020 candidates
President Donald Trump was one of five U.S. presidents that won the presidency after losing the popular vote. Since 2016, many politicians and voters have called for a change to the Electoral College system that would ensure a president wins by a more direct vote. We broke down what exactly the Electoral College is, and why we have it. Read the whole story here.
Amid a murky forecast for the presidential election and concerns that a winner may take weeks to call nationally, Iowa officials hope that a rule change will allow for a more streamlined reporting process. Read the whole story here.