From the desk of the NASW-IA Executive Director

My ask of you today is that you make sure that all eligible voters in your circles have the opportunity to vote. 

Every Vote Counts!  Did you know that:

In 2022

State Rep. Turek of Council Bluffs won by only SIX votes!

State Rep. Heather Matson of Ankeny won by only 23 votes!

In 2020

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents southeast Iowa in Congress, won her congressional race by SIX votes!

If this doesn’t reinforce the idea that every vote counts, what does? 

For specific information on voting in Iowa, go to

https://voterready.iowa.gov/

Iowa has same day voter registration.  If an eligible voter in Iowa wants to vote today, but isn’t registered, they should go to the appropriate polling place for their current address and present an accepted ID + proof of current residence (like a utility bill). 

Find a list of polling locations on the voter’s county auditor’s website.  Find your county auditor’s website here:

https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditorslist.html

Out of state students who attend Iowa colleges and universities who are otherwise eligible to vote are allowed to vote in Iowa (as long as they haven’t voted elsewhere) if they bring an accepted ID and documentation of their Iowa address.  

If anyone is being blocked from voting, and can’t get it worked out with their polling place staff, they should call the Iowa Voter Protection Hotline: 

1-888-SOS-VOTE

Or fill out this form on the Secretary of State’s website:

https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterhotline/index.aspx

Remember - it's easier to get good policy if our elected officials are in alignment with our social work values!

Denise Rathman, MSW

Executive Director

NASW-IA