Iowa colleges and universities host early voting places for students, community

As early voting begins for Iowans, students attending higher education institutions have the option of voting with their college or home address. To support voting access for students and community members alike, some universities are housing their own polling locations.

Drake University

At Drake University, student groups representing both political parties collaborated to bring an early voting location to its Des Moines campus. According to a news release from the university, Drake College Republicans and Drake Democrats have worked with Polk County election officials to offer early voting 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Knapp Center.

Students have brought early voting to Drake through their organizations for every election cycle since 2008, the release stated.

“When student leaders set aside their differences to make voting easier for everyone, that’s democracy at its best,” said Jessica Vanden Berg, executive director of The Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy, in the release. “By bringing early voting to the Knapp Center, our students are making sure every voice on campus and in our community has a clear, convenient path to the ballot box.”

Early voting officially began Oct. 14 in Iowa, and those wishing to cast their ballot ahead of the Nov. 3 election can do so through their county auditor’s office or at a satellite location designated by the county auditor. Voter registration is required and can be completed at the polling location with an accepted form of identification and proof of residence.

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa has opened five early voting spots across its Iowa City campus, each taking place on different days throughout the month. The Iowa Memorial Union will host the first early voting window 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14-15, followed by openings at different UI Health Care buildings on Oct. 19, 20, 21 and 29-30.

Iowa State University

Iowa State University students can vote early from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at the Scheman Building, said Center for Cyclone Civics Co-Director and Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics Director Karen Kedrowski in an email.

The ISU space has hosted early voting since at least 2020, Kedrowski said, selected through voter petitions organized by the League of Women Voters and preferred for its parking and accessibility.

University of Northern Iowa

At the University of Northern Iowa, students can vote early in Maucker Union from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14-15 and from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 16.

Young voter turnout

According to information posted online by the Tufts University Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the 2022 midterm elections saw a national turnout by voters ages 18-29 of 23%, a 5 percentage-point drop from 2018 but 10 percentage points higher than 2014.

Iowa saw 26% of its young voters cast their ballots in 2022, beating each of its neighboring states with reported numbers except for Minnesota, which had a 35.5% turnout. While above the national rate for 2022, Iowa’s youth voter turnout dropped by nearly 9 percentage points from 2018.