Who can register to vote?

U.S. citizens who reside in Worth County are eligible to register to vote in the county. You may register at age 17 ½, but you must be 18 years old to vote.

How do I register to vote?

You may register to vote by mail by completing a voter registration application and returning it by mail or in person to our office.  Voter registration applications can also be found at many locations throughout Worth County and in your local phone book.

You may also register to vote in person at the Auditor's Office during business hours, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday.

After you register to vote, you will receive a voter card by mail which lists your precinct, polling place, and legislative districts. You do not need this card in order to vote.  If your card is misplaced, new cards are available at no charge.  By law cards must be mailed; please allow up to two weeks for delivery. 

How do I change my address or re-register?

If you move within Worth County or would like to change any other registration information, you may change your registration by mail.  Enter the changes on the reverse side of your voter card or complete a new voter registration application and mail it to the Auditor's Office. You may also change your registration in person at the Auditor's Office during business hours, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday.

If you are already registered in Worth County and have moved within the county, you may change your address when voting early, or at the polls on Election Day.  To change your address on Election Day, go to your new polling place and bring a photo ID (one with your old address is OK).  You'll save time on Election Day if you update your registration ahead of time.

If you move from Worth County to another county or state, you must re-register in your new county of residence.  When you re-register, indicate on your application that you were previously registered in Worth County, Iowa, so officials in your new community can notify us to remove your name from our rolls.

When can I register to vote?

There is no waiting period to be eligible to register to vote. If you move, you may register to vote as soon as you move into your new home.

On April 3, 2007, Governor Culver signed House File 653, which allows voters to register and vote on Election Day.  This law took effect January 1, 2008.  There is still a voter registration deadline of ten days before primary and general elections and eleven days before all other elections, but you can still register after the deadline using the election day registration procedure.  However, this procedure has more requirements than registering before the deadline.

If you are registering in person, no documents are required.  If you are registering by mail and do not have either an Iowa driver's license number or a Social Security number, some documentation is needed; see the voter registration application for more details.

What do I need to know when I register?

Your name, residence address, and birthday.  You are also required to provide your driver's license number (Iowa licenses only) or the last four digits of your Social Security number (if you don't have a driver's license or if your license is from another state).  If you do not have either of these numbers, there are other identification options; see the voter registration application for details.

You will be asked for your telephone number, e-mail address and party preference; however, these are not required.  It also helps to know the last place you were registered to vote (if any) so we can notify voter registration officials there.

If I have changed my name, must I register and vote under my new name?

To avoid delays at the polls, you should re-register when you change your name. If you do not, you may update your name at the polls on election day.

Only if you have moved to a new address or changed your name.

Will I remain registered even if I don't vote in every election?

To remain actively registered, you must either vote or update your registration every four years.  In order to delete someone from our rolls entirely, we must receive official notice that the voter has moved, registered elsewhere, died, or been convicted of a felony.

Who can register voters?

Any person may assist another in completion of a voter registration application.

Can I register to vote by mail?

Yes. Applications are available above. Applications are also available from the Worth County Auditor, in your phone book, and at other locations throughout Worth County.

Can I update my information on the phone or on line?

No, Iowa law requires your signature.

Where do I send my voter registration application after I fill it out?

• Addresses for all County Auditors in Iowa (Iowa Secretary of State)

No. You must be a United States citizen to register to vote.

Can an ex-felon register and vote?

On July 4, 2005, Governor Vilsack restored voting rights to ex-felons who had completed their sentences through that date.  Since that date, the Department of Corrections has sent the governor a monthly list of people who have discharged their sentences (including probation, parole, or supervised release). The Governor then must consider these individuals for a restoration of citizenship rights. If granted, a restoration of citizenship certificate will be issued to the offender’s last known address.

Can anyone obtain access to the voter registration list?  What if I don't want my address released?

Our office is required by state law to allow voter lists to be released for political purposes.  Use of the voter list for commercial purposes, such as debt collection or sales, is a serious misdemeanor (Code of Iowa, Section 48A.39).  Anyone purchasing a voter list must fill out a form identifying themselves and their specific purpose (such as the name of a political organization or campaign).  Iowa law does not allow voters to exclude themselves from such lists, and political organizations are exempt from most provisions of the national do-not-call law.

Does registering to vote mean I'll get jury duty?

You may be called for jury duty even if you are not registered to vote, since jury lists are compiled from motor vehicle, driver's license, and utility records in addition to voter registration lists.  For more information about jury duty contact the Worth County Clerk of Court, 356-6060.

Can a change be made in my registration without my knowledge?

No, every time your information changes you should receive a new voter card.  This includes records updated in our annual update of addresses from the Postal Service.

I just registered and got my voter card, but there's a mistake on it.

Your card includes a postage-paid return card.  Make any corrections you need to, sign the card, and send it back.  Within two weeks, you should receive another new card with the corrected information.

I thought I was registered with one party but my card says I'm registered with another one.

You may have voted in a primary election or attended a caucus and changed your party affiliation at that time.  If you wish to make any changes or corrections, you can use the postage-paid return card that came with your voter card.

Residence: Where You Live and Where You Vote

What does "Residence Address" mean?

Your residence is where your home or living quarters is located, and, to which, whenever you are absent, you intend to return - except if you are away from Iowa because of federal or state government employment, including military service. Leaving for temporary purposes, such as school attendance, does not result in a change of residence for voting purposes, unless you register there.

Why is the residence address so important?

Because your polling place and elected representatives are determined by your residence address. In order for you to receive the correct ballot on election day, your registration must have your residence address.

Can I put down my post office box as my address?

No, the address must be the complete street address of your residence.  The only exception is the Domestic Violence shelter.  We also cannot accept a mail drop location such as Mailboxes Etc. or PakMail.  If you have a post office or mail drop box, put this on your registration in addition to your street address.

Can I choose which address to use for registering?

You must register where you live. If you live at different places at different times of the year, you can register at only one address.  If you are a student living at school, you must decide whether to register at your parent's home address or at your school address (but not both!)

Persons who go south for the winter must decide whether to register in Iowa or in the other state.

You cannot register at a business address, a former address or at a piece of property that you own.

How do I become a Iowa resident?

As far as voter registration is concerned, if you live in Iowa and intend for this to be your legal residence, you are a Iowa resident.

Registering to vote in Iowa does not automatically qualify you for in-state tuition; contact your school's financial aid department for their requirements. 

I'm serving in the military. What is my voting residence?

The place where you resided when you first entered the service, unless you later establish a voting residence elsewhere.

I'm a U.S. citizen living outside the country.  Can I still vote?

Yes.  You may continue to vote using the last permanent address you used before leaving the country.

Can a homeless person register and vote?

Yes.  If you are staying at the Shelter House, you may use that address.  If you are on the street, you may use a street corner or location to which you frequently return.  You must specify some address or location.

Can I register if I am staying at the Domestic Violence shelter?

Yes.  For safety reasons the street address of the shelter is not released.  Use the mailing address (PO Box 2657).  This is the only post office box we accept - all other voters must list a street address.