Oct 14, 2026 - Politics
Iowa's early voting starts Wednesday
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Iowans can begin voting Wednesday in an election that could reshape state government and help decide which party controls Congress.
Why it matters: Iowa is once again a battleground, with competitive races for governor and the U.S. Senate and House — and several issues that could determine how voters break.
Leading issues on voters' minds
- 💰 Cost of living: It tops Iowa voters' concerns, with Midwest grocery prices 2.2% higher in July than a year earlier, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- 🚜 Tariffs and agriculture: Iowa importers paid an estimated $1.7 billion in tariffs through June as farmers contend with high input costs and trade uncertainty.
- 🏥 Health care: Iowa faces Medicaid budget pressures and coming eligibility changes, including work requirements.
- 💧 Water and cancer: 60% of likely Iowa voters rank water quality and the environment among their top five issues, including 64% of independents, according to a poll commissioned by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
- 🏫 Schools: Iowa's expanding private-school tuition program remains a dividing line over how taxpayer education dollars should be spent.
Three races we're watching:
- Governor: Democrat Rob Sand vs. Republican Zach Lahn. Cook Political Report rates the open-seat race Lean Democratic, a notable shift in a state with a Republican lean.
- U.S. Senate: Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson vs. Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. Cook rates the race a toss-up, putting Iowa squarely in the fight for control of the Senate.
- 3rd Congressional District: Republican Rep. Zach Nunn vs. Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott. Cook's Oct. 9 House ratings moved this race to Lean Democratic, making the Des Moines-area seat one of the country's closely watched Republican-held districts.
Where to go
Your early voting location depends on your county.
- Polk: Election Office, 2309 Euclid Ave., Des Moines. Satellite sites open later this month.
- Dallas: Election Office, 210 N. 10th St., Adel.
- Warren: Check the county auditor's election page for early voting and Election Day information.
- Madison: Find election information and precinct locations through the county auditor.
Zoom in: Mail ballot requests must be received by your county auditor by 5pm Monday, Oct. 19.
On Election Day: Use the state's address-based lookup to find your assigned polling place.
- Polls are open 7am-8pm on Election Day, Nov. 3.