VRM in the States: Iowa

Advances in Voter Registration Modernization

• Electronic Voter Registration: Iowa launched electronic voter registration at Department of Transportation (DOT) offices in 2006. DOT clerks input voters’ vocal responses electronically and collect signatures on an electronic pad. Voter registration information is automatically transferred daily to election officials.
• Online Voter Registration: Iowa launched online voter registration through the DOT in 2016. Eligible citizens with a state driver’s license or non-driver ID can use the system to register to vote. Individuals can update their information by submitting a new registration form online.
• Election Day Registration: Iowa implemented Election Day registration in 2007. Individuals may register and vote at the polls on Election Day or at their county auditor’s office during the early voting period. Iowans who moved within the same county may correct their address on Election Day after providing proof of identity and residence.

Gains from Voter Registration Modernization in Iowa

The steps Iowa has taken thus far have yielded increases in voter registration and financial benefits for the state. For example:

• During a May 2013 interview with Brennan Center staff, Iowa election officials reported that electronic registration has streamlined application processing and diminished errors, reducing the amount of time employees spend on voter registration.
• DOT registration rates more than doubled in the years following the state’s implementation of electronic registration in 2006.  
• In the November 2016 general election, 51,215 voters registered on Election Day or during the early voting period.