Iowa Election Day 2024: Trump wins big as Republicans expand control in Iowa
Election Day in Iowa is over. Look back through this live blog for a recap of our Election Day coverage.
How many Iowans voted?
Nearly 74% of registered voters voted in November's general election, with 1.66 million Iowans casting their votes, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office. Just one county, Story, had not reported its full results as of 1 p.m. due to a voting machine error that resulted in a hand count.
State data shows 2.3 million Iowans were registered to vote in Tuesday's election.
The turnout is higher than in 2016 but lower than the record set in 2020.
— Sabine Martin
Ankeny's mayor was elected supervisor. What happens next for the suburb's leadership.
Ankeny will soon begin the process of finding its next mayor after the city's current leader was elected Tuesday to be a county supervisor.
Ankeny Mayor Mark Holm won the District 3 seat on the Polk County Board of Supervisors to represent Altoona, Ankeny and a portion of unincorporated Polk County, according to unofficial results. Holm, who lives in Ankeny, has served as the city's mayor for three years and was on the Ankeny City Council for 10 years.
The Ankeny City Council will have 60 days from Holm's departure to decide whether to appoint a new mayor or hold a special election for a candidate to serve the remainder of his term.
— Phillip Sitter
Washington County results expected by noon
Counting has resumed in Washington County and results are expected by about noon, according to elections administrator Liz Torres-Potter.
It’s the last remaining county to report in the 1st Congressional District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has declared victory. The Associated Press has not called the race and unofficial results show a .2% difference between her and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan.
— Marissa Payne
Republicans expand control of Iowa Legislature
Republicans appear poised to grow their majorities in the Iowa Legislature yet again after a strong showing Tuesday night, expanding what were already historically large majorities.
While some races had not yet been called as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, took the stage Tuesday night at the Iowa GOP's election night watch party in Des Moines to declare victory.
Grassley said Republicans had defended all the incumbent House Republicans running for reelection.
-- Stephen Gruber-Miller
Republican Jon Dunwell re-elected to Iowa House District 38
Republican incumbent Jon Dunwell defeated Democratic challenger Brad Magg in the race for Iowa House District 38.
Dunwell, 58, received 55% of the vote. Magg, a 38-year-old rural entrepreneur, had 44%, according to the Associated Press.
More: Republican Jon Dunwell defeats Brad Magg for Iowa House District 38
1st District still undecided
Overnight brought no new clarity to the race between Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan. Miller-Meeks declared victory last night, but with 97% of the votes in, the Associated Press has not yet called the race. The incumbents leads by 0.2% in the unofficial results.
Republican incumbent Dennis Guth wins Iowa Senate District 28
Incumbent Dennis Guth defeated journalist Cynthia Oppedal Paschen in Tuesday's general election to claim the Senate District 28 seat.
The Associated Press called the race with four of five counties reporting. Guth prevailed with 71.2% of votes, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's office. Story County had not yet tallied its votes as of midnight Tuesday due to an issue with ballot machines.
Republican Jesse Green re-elected to Iowa Senate District 24
Incumbent Sen. Jesse Green, a Republican from Boone, was reelected to Senate District 24 Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race with four of five counties reporting.
More: Jesse Green secures another term in Senate District 24 in Boone, Greene and Guthrie counties
Green received 64% of the 30,482 votes cast, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's website. Liston secured 36% of the vote. Story County had not yet tallied its votes as of midnight Tuesday due to an issue with ballot machines.
Miller-Meeks declares victory: race not called
Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is narrowly leading Democrat Christina Bohannan and declaring victory in their rematch in Tuesday's election in a race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, one of the most competitive in the nation.
More: US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks declares victory in 1st District: race not called
With about 97% of the vote reported as of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Miller-Meeks has the edge with just under 50% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Bohannan is behind by one-tenth of a percentage point.
The Associated Press has not yet called the race.
-Marissa Payne
Sarah Trone Garriott declares victory in tight Iowa Senate race in District 14
Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott declared victory Tuesday night over Republican Mark Hanson in her bid to seek a third term in the Iowa Senate in a race separated by only a handful of votes.
Trone Garriott is the incumbent representing Iowa Senate District 14, which includes Waukee, Adel, Van Meter and parts of Clive and West Des Moines in Dallas County.
More: Sarah Trone Garriott claims victory in Iowa Senate District 14 in race too close to call
She claimed victory online at about 11 p.m., writing on social media, "Thank you to all who helped us win this race!"
With 99% of the vote in, Trone Garriott and Hanson both were at 50%, separated by 19 votes, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's office.
-Philip Joens
Mike Pike has slight lead over incumbent Nate Boulton in Iowa Senate race
Only 43 votes separated Republican newcomer Mike Pike and Democratic incumbent Nate Boulton in a race too close to call Tuesday night for Iowa's Senate District 20.
Pike, 48, of Des Moines, captured 49.96% of the vote, just a 0.13% advantage over Boulton’s 49.83% in a race that also included 66 write-in votes out of a total of 31,303 ballots cast, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.
More: Republican newcomer Mike Pike holds 43-vote edge over incumbent Nate Boulton in Senate race
If the results hold up in favor of Pike, Boulton said he would ask for a recount.
-Kevin Baskins
Iowans overwhelmingly pass two constitutional amendments
Iowans voted to pass two constitutional amendments at the ballot box, making language changes to the state's age and citizenship requirements for voting and seeking to clarify instruction in the law for the gubernatorial line of succession.
Both of the constitutional amendments got overwhelming support from Iowa voters.
More: Iowans pass 2 constitutional amendments on ballot, on voting age, gubernatorial succession
The first amendment on changes to voter age and citizenship requirements in the Iowa Constitution received 77% of the vote for passage.
The constitutional amendment on gubernatorial succession received 81% of the votes for passage.
Voters had the last say on whether the state’s constitution would be altered, but the process to amend it started years before. The constitutional amendment had to be approved by two consecutive two-year sessions of the Iowa Legislature before it went on the ballot, including other processes.
-Sabine Martin
Pollster J. Ann Selzer: 'I’ll be reviewing data' after Iowa Poll miss
Renowned Pollster J. Ann Selzer said Tuesday she would be reviewing her data to determine why a Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released just days before the election produced results so far out of line with former President Donald Trump's resounding victory.
Trump handily won Iowa for a third time, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by 14 percentage points with more than 90% of the vote counted ― a sharp contrast to Saturday's Iowa Poll that had Harris leading by 3 points.
More: Pollster J. Ann Selzer: 'I’ll be reviewing data' after rare Iowa Poll misses Trump victory
"Tonight, I’m of course thinking about how we got where we are," Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., which conducts the Iowa Poll, said in a statement.
"The poll findings we produced for The Des Moines Register and Mediacom did not match what the Iowa electorate ultimately decided in the voting booth today. I’ll be reviewing data from multiple sources with hopes of learning why that happened. And, I welcome what that process might teach me."
Zach Nunn defeats Lanon Baccam in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
Republican Zach Nunn has won a second term representing Iowa's highly competitive 3rd Congressional District race over Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam.
More: Republican Zach Nunn defeats Lanon Baccam, wins reelection bid in Iowa's 3rd District
The Associated Press called the race for Nunn at about 11:20 p.m. With just over 93% of precincts reporting, Nunn held 51.1% of the vote to Baccam's 48.9%, according to the AP.
-Stephen Gruber-Miller
Republican Bill Gustoff leads in Iowa House District 40 race
Republican state Rep. Bill Gustoff was ahead late Tuesday night in the race for Iowa House District 40, where he was looking to stave off a challenge from Democrat Heather Sievers.
With an estimated 99% of the vote in, Gustoff had secured 51% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Sievers lagged with 49%.
The Associated Press had not yet called the race.
-Marissa Payne
Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May, other judges on track to be retained
All Iowa judges up for retention votes Tuesday, including Supreme Court Justice David May, appeared on track to receive new terms based on unofficial results Tuesday evening.
Under Iowa law, judges are appointed by the governor and then subject to periodic retention elections. All Iowans can vote on appellate judges, while district judges appear on ballots in their respective districts. In Tuesday's election, voters were asked whether to retain dozens of state judges, including four judges on the Iowa Court of Appeals and one Iowa Supreme Court justice, May.
More: Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May, other judges on track to be retained, results show
It was the first retention vote for May, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022. In his first two years on the court, May has been involved in a number of high-profile cases, most notably ruling in favor of Iowa's six-week abortion ban.
-William Morris
Zach Nunn leading Lanon Baccam in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
With more than 90% of the vote counted, Republican Zach Nunn is leading in Iowa's highly competitive 3rd Congressional District race over Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam, as of 11:11 p.m.
Nonpartisan election forecasters rated the district a toss-up, and a pre-election Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found a plurality of likely voters in the 3rd District favored a Democratic candidate for Congress over a Republican, 48% to 41%.
More: Republican Zach Nunn leading Lanon Baccam in reelection bid in Iowa's 3rd District
Nunn, a former state senator and state representative from Bondurant is no stranger to tight races after narrowly winning his first term in 2022 by just over 2,000 votes, or half a percentage point, over former Democratic U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne.
The 3rd District covers 21 counties in central and southern Iowa, including the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Winterset, Osceola and Ottumwa.
Bohannon leads Miller-Meeks with 17/20 counties reporting
Democrat Christina Bohannan is leading Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in their rematch in Tuesday's election in a race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, one of the most competitive in the nation.
With 17 of 20 counties reporting as of 10:37 p.m., Bohannan leads with about 51% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Miller-Meeks is behind with about 49% of the vote so far.
The Associated Press has not yet called the race.
Democratic and Republican groups have poured millions of dollars into the contest, targeting it as potentially influential in deciding which major party controls Congress.
After a failed 2022 bid to deny Miller-Meeks a second term, Bohannan, a 53-year-old University of Iowa law professor, is trying again to unseat the incumbent, a 69-year-old ophthalmologist and Army veteran.
The 1st District spans 20 counties including the cities of Iowa City, Davenport, Burlington and rural southeastern Iowa.
-Marissa Payne
Republican Mark Holm wins Polk County supervisor in Ankeny, Altoona
Republican Mark Holm has won the election to represent District 3 on the Polk County Board of Supervisors.
More: Republican Mark Holm wins Polk County supervisor seat in Ankeny, Altoona
Holm secured 53.82% of the votes with all 34 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Polk County auditor. Democratic opponent Kim Hagemann received 45.99% of the votes, the unofficial results show.
-Virginia Barreda
‘It started right here in Iowa’: Iowa GOP takes credit for Trump’s success
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird credited Iowa for starting former President Donald Trump on a path to victory thanks to his overwhelming win in the Iowa Caucuses in January.
“We are just so excited about what’s happening all across this country,” Bird told the Iowa GOP’s election night watch party in Des Moines. “And we’re not going to let anybody forget it started right here in Iowa.”
Bird said Trump’s 30-percentage point win in January’s caucuses put him on a path to success.
“We’re going to take some credit here in Iowa for the Iowa Caucuses, aren’t we?” she said. “Because President Trump had an unprecedented win in the Iowa Caucuses. He won them bigger than anybody ever had, and that launched him back to the White House, right where we need him.”
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig praised Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans in the Iowa Legislature for working as a team to deliver GOP wins in Iowa.
“I’ve been saying it all fall: Aren’t you glad you live in the state of Iowa?” he said as the crowd cheered.
Naig said the 2024 election has been about “fundamentals” like border security, fighting inflation, energy security and food and agriculture security.
“Democrats want to remake our country,” he said. “Republicans want to save our country. We want to preserve our country. And I want to thank you for what you’ve done to ensure that we’ve got more of those Iowa values showing up at the courthouse, the statehouse and Washington, D.C.”
-Stephen Gruber-Miller
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack: Bob Ray (R) is “smiling” at Lanon Baccom’s race – even though Baccom’s a Democrat
For former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, the 2024 3rd Congressional District race is reminiscent of the 1998 campaign when he was considered the underdog.
“He's running against an incumbent,” the current Secretary of Agriculture said after making a brief appearance at the Iowa Democratic Party’s election night event. “That's not an easy thing to do, and I think people probably didn't think he had a chance when he started. But like me in 1998, it's been a little train that could and he just kept working at it.”
Vilsack, who is admittedly a “numbers guy,” was hesitant to make a prediction. But he “knows a little something about winning here in Iowa,” he said, so he was anxiously awaiting more of the Polk County vote totals.
“He needed about a 30,000-vote margin” in Polk County, Vilsack said. “I think he's going to be pretty doggone close, and I think we've had a pretty good turnout here.”
Have patience, he said, “there’s going to be a few more anxious moments.”
Vilsack was particularly proud that Baccam -- who previously worked under the secretary at the USDA and is personal friends with the secretary’s family -- was able to share his personal story on the trail.
“People got a chance to understand and know who he is: Dedicated to this country and to the state, really dedicated to service, in large part because of the story of his family coming here as one of the Tai Dam families,” Vilsack said. “It's not just a Lanon story. It's an Iowa story. It's our story of a state that opened up its heart, its communities, its churches, its businesses to these families.
“And I don't know where Bob Ray is tonight, but I suspect he's up there looking down on all of this and I think he's smiling -- even though Lanon is a Democrat,” Vilsack added.
“I think he's pleased to see that his legacy is reflected in a young man running for Congress and being accepted by thousands, tens of thousands of Iowans today.”
-Courtney Crowder
Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson reelected to Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson was declared the winner of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, according to projections by the Associated Press.
Hinson won with 57.1% of the vote on election night against Democratic opponent Sarah Corkery, who won 41.6% of the vote, and no-party candidate Jody Puffett, who earned 1.3%. The race was called by the AP at 10:07 p.m.
More: Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson wins third term in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
The 2nd District includes Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City in the northeastern corner of the state.
-Kate Kealey
Democrat Rep. Heather Matson reelected to Iowa House District 42
Incumbent Democratic Rep. Heather Matson was reelected to serve Iowa House District 42 in southern Ankeny for a second term.
More: Democratic incumbent Rep. Heather Matson keeps seat in Ankeny's Iowa House District 42
Matson, 48, who is self-employed, won a close race with 50.4% of the vote against Republican challenger Heather Stephenson, who got 49.6%, according to unofficial results.
-Sabine Martin
Republican Ryan Weldon leads in Iowa House District 41 in northern Ankeny
(This story was updated to add new information and correct that there is not yet a declared winner.)
In a close race, Republican Ryan Weldon is ahead of Democratic incumbent Rep. Molly Buck for Iowa House District 41 in northern Ankeny.
Earlier results showed Buck won the seat but did not include vote counts from a machine in one precinct. As of 9:50 p.m., Weldon, 40, has 50.24% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Buck has 49.60% of the vote.
More: Republican Ryan Weldon leads in Iowa House District 41 in northern Ankeny
The Associated Press has not declared a winner in the race.
Donald Trump soundly defeats Kamala Harris in Iowa presidential race
Former Republican President Donald Trump has once again cruised to victory in Iowa, tallying his third presidential win in the Hawkeye State — this time over Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the end, it wasn't close.
More: Donald Trump cruises to victory in Iowa presidential race over Kamala Harris
The Associated Press called the race at about 9:40 p.m. According to partial results released by the Iowa Secretary of State, Trump led Harris 55% to 43% with 37 counties reporting.
-Brianne Pfannenstiel
Republican Randy Feenstra wins big in Congressional race
Republican incumbent Randy Feenstra won Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press.
The sitting U.S. representative beat out Democrat Ryan Melton in Iowa’s most conservative district.
Feenstra held a lead of 74.27% of the vote to Melton's 25.36% at 9:45 p.m., according to partial, unofficial results.
More: Randy Feenstra defeats Ryan Melton in Iowa's Fourth Congressional District
-Kate Kealey
‘The Des Moines Register’s wrong!’ Iowa GOP chair declares victory for Trump after NBC race call
Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann took a victory lap at the Iowa GOP’s election night watch party, celebrating NBC News calling Iowa for former President Donald Trump. The Associated Press has not yet called the race in Iowa, as of 9:37 p.m.
Kaufmann took the opportunity to slam the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, which was conducted days before the election, that found Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump, 47% to 44%, within the poll’s margin of error.
“Ann Selzer’s wrong! The Des Moines Register’s wrong! Donald Trump just won Iowa!” Kaufmann shouted.
Kaufmann said the poll’s result energized Republicans.
The Iowa Poll is considered a gold standard. From 2008 through 2020, the poll accurately predicted the winner of the presidential race in Iowa. In 2004, the final Iowa Poll found Democrat John Kerry leading Republican George Bush by 5 percentage points. Bush went on to win Iowa by less than 1 percentage point.
-Stephen Gruber-Miller
Democrat Matt Blake beats GOP incumbent Brad Zaun in Iowa Senate race
In this year's most expensive legislative race, Democrat Matt Blake, a former Urbandale council member, defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Brad Zaun in Senate District 22.
More: Democratic challenger Matt Blake upsets Republican incumbent Brad Zaun in Iowa Senate race
Blake, 36, won 52% of the vote, with Zaun at 47% in the Nov. 5 election. Senate District 22 represents Urbandale and Johnston, a district split among 15,543 registered Republicans, 16,007 Democrats and 14,641 independents as of Nov. 1.
-Donnelle Eller
Rep. Molly Buck defeats Republican challenger in Iowa House District 41
Democratic incumbent Rep. Molly Buck will serve another term representing Iowans who live in northern Ankeny in House District 41.
Buck earned 50.09% of the vote to Republican challenger Ryan Weldon's 49.76%, according to unofficial results from the Polk County auditor. They're separated by just 65 votes, unofficial results show.
More: Democratic Rep. Molly Buck secures second term in Iowa House District 41 in Ankeny
She will serve her second term in the Iowa House.
-Sabine Martin
Follow results from across the country
Results continue to flow in from across the country as the polls close in more states. Follow the latest national updates from our partners at USA TODAY or explore our interactive maps at DesMoinesRegister.com/Results.
Some Story County ballots being taken to Auditor's office for counting after issues at precincts
There were 13 precincts with issues counting ballots today throughout Story County.
The ballots that were unable to be counted at precincts are being brought to the Auditor's office by a bipartisan team to run them through a counter. There is no estimate on the number of affected ballots.
-Celia Brocker
Republican Jill Altringer wins Polk County Supervisor District 2 seat
Republican Jill Altringer has won the election to represent District 2 on the Polk County Board of Supervisors, narrowly defeating Democratic challenger John Forbes.
More: Jill Altringer narrowly defeats John Forbes to win Polk County supervisor District 2
Altringer clinched 50.42% of the votes with all 39 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Polk County auditor. Forbes got 49.39% of the votes, the unofficial results show.
-Virginia Barreda
Iowa House District 43 race called for Eddie Andrews
Incumbent Republican Rep. Eddie Andrews has won a third term in Iowa House District 43, which covers Johnston and parts of Urbandale and Saylorville.
With all 11 Polk County precincts reporting, Andrews got 50.92% to Democratic challenger Tiara Mays-Sims' 47.47%, according to Tuesday's unofficial poll results. Independent Brett Nelson received almost 1.5% of the votes.
-F. Amanda Tugade
More: Incumbent Republican Rep. Eddie Andrews wins reelection for Iowa House District 43
Polls are closed
Polls for the 2024 election are now closed in Iowa. If you are still in line, don't leave. All voters have the right to stay in line as long as it takes to cast a ballot.
You can track results live at DesMoinesRegister.com all night.
— Kate Kealey
Democrats, riding wave of adrenaline from the Iowa Poll, believe ‘Iowa is in play’
Democratic Party leaders in Iowa have been riding a new wave of “adrenaline” since the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed Vice President Kamala Harris with a 3-point lead over former President Donald Trump.
The results, which marked the first time a Democrat led a Republican in the presidential race in Iowa this cycle, may have sent shockwaves through the world of political pundits – but the numbers matched the mood volunteers were feeling at voters’ doors, said Jennifer Konfrst, the Iowa Statehouse minority leader.
More: Iowa Democratic Party leader feeling 'nauseously optimistic' as election night begins
“We knew things felt good on the ground up until the Iowa Poll; the Iowa Poll just reflected what we've been hearing,” Konfrst said. “It was even better news than we expected, but we still felt like things are heading our way in this state.”
As the election drew closer, Konfrst targeted her voter outreach to “persuasion voters,” registered Independents and “people that need convincing,” she said. Over and over, she said she heard from those voters that reproductive freedom was a top issue and that Iowa’s six-week abortion ban “went too far.”
“I heard a phrase at the door so many times this year, which was: ‘This isn’t the Iowa I grew up in,’” she said.
With the White House up for grabs, the presidential election naturally takes up much of the attention, but local leaders said they have been just as focused on securing victories in key congressional races as well as tight statehouse contests.
Though Iowa’s two statehouse chambers are controlled by Republicans and the state has swung toward Trump twice, Konfrst believes “Iowa is not a lost cause when it comes to bringing balance back.”
“Tonight feels like a crossroads election where the pendulum has swung too far to the right and Iowans are going to try to begin the process of correcting, whether that means huge, huge wins tonight or just progress,” she said.
“I think that we need to recognize, and national folks need to recognize that Iowa is in play.”
— Courtney Crowder
Early morning issues in Madison County fixed, according to officials
Madison County reported a problem in one precinct in Truro with voter check-in, when technology problems made it difficult for poll workers to know what ballot to give voters.
But those early morning problems were fixed, according to Madison County Auditor Shelley Kaster.
-Lee Rood
Polk County residents cast their vote, hope for unity
While standing in line to vote at the Polk County River Place, Charles King is weighing who he will vote for in the presidential race. He has traits he appreciates and opposes in both candidates.
King does know his biggest issue is women’s rights and legalizing cannabis use.
“I have my own beliefs as far as abortions go, but I feel that a woman should have the right to choose what she does with her body,” King told the Register while waiting in line to vote Tuesday evening.
While Harris appeals to him for women’s rights issues, but Trump appeals to King because he speaks his mind.
“Regardless of if you agree with anything Trump says, disagree with anything Trump says, Trump is one of those people who lives like I live,” King said. “He don’t give a damn. If he feels a certain way, he is going to say it. So that is one thing about Donald Trump that I do respect is that he just doesn’t care.”
For Matthew Campbell Jr., 60, he believes Trump’s style causes instability, which is why he said he is voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I don’t trust Donald Trump, having been a four-year service man myself serving the country, I don’t trust him to be in charge of our military,” Campbell said having served in the U.S. Air Force.
Women’s rights are another issue driving Campbell to vote for Harris. After seeing how the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Campbell said he is fearful of what could happen next with another Trump presidency.
As a Republican, Alexandria Stratton appreciates Trump’s appointments to the Supreme Court and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She told the Register she hopes to see federal action similar to Iowa’s six-week abortion ban.
Even though Stratton and Campbell are voting for different candidates, they each shared a hope for unity regardless of the election’s outcome.
“I just pray for peace, no matter how this comes out,” Campbell said. “There is going to be a winner there is always going to be a loser.”
— Kate Kealey
Ceiling falls in polling place in Black Hawk County before polls open, no injuries reported
Jill Higgins was nervous to work her first presidential election as chairperson for Black Hawk County elections. Before voters even started flowing into the University of Northern Iowa Commons to cast their ballots, Higgins faced an unlikely roadblock, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A part of the ceiling in the ballroom at the polling location caved in. Luckily, it happened before polls opened and nobody was hurt, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Even with the ceiling falling in, Higgins told the Iowa Capital Dispatch her experience as chairperson has been “awesome” as she witnessed many students vote for their first time.
“Would I do it again? I would, I would, the more I do it, I know the more comfortable I’ll feel,” Higgins told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. “Yeah, it’s an anxious time, right? But it’s fun, and it’s exciting to see all these students here, and, you know, giving some high fives and students are really excited, and that’s what’s great."
— Kate Kealey
Polls close in an hour
Iowan voters have less than an hour until polls close at 8 p.m. for the 2024 general election. If you are currently in line, don't leave. All voters have the right to stay in line as long as it takes to cast a ballot.
For those heading to the polls, you can find your precinct or polling location on the Iowa Secretary of State's website.
Make sure when you come to the polls, you have proof of identification. That includes:
Driver's license
Out-of-state driver's license or non-operator ID
U.S. passport
U.S. military ID or veteran ID
Iowa voter identification card
Tribal ID card/ document
Student IDs issued by an Iowa high school or college also serve as proof of identity.
Your proof of residence may be required if you are updating your address or registering to vote on Election Day.
— Kate Kealey
Voting issues reported in Montgomery, Mills counties in Iowa
The election triggered a sprinkling of other complaints across the state.
In Montgomery County, Auditor Jill Ozuna, a Republican, was accused of removing a Democratic ballot counter, Joey Norris, after he raised questions about how some ballots were being treated.
Ozuna declined to comment, saying she was too busy to talk on Election Day.
In Mills County, workers were unable to print out declaration of eligibility forms from voter check-in tablets, according to a news release from County Auditor Ami Petersen.
Poll workers used written eligibility forms instead.
“This in no way affected the ability to vote or the ability to verify if a customer is eligible to vote,” Petersen’s release said. “The situation was fixed within an hour.”
— Lee Rood
Iowa Democratic Party leader feeling “nauseously optimistic”
With about two hours until polls close at 8 p.m., Rita Hart is feeling “nauseously optimistic.”
“There’s a lot of butterflies going on,” the Iowa Democratic Party Chair said as CNN blared the first of many “Key Race Alerts” to come this Election Night. “We’re feeling positive, but we never know until the counting is done.”
Hart, who voted early in Clinton County, spent much of Tuesday deploying teams to last-minute door knocks, phone banks and emergency responses at polling places. As someone who lost by six votes when she ran for Congress in 2020, she understands the importance of getting out every single vote.
“We've got two races right here, these congressional races, that could come down to as close as that again,” Hart said of the 3rd Congressional District race between Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and Democrat Lanon Baccam and the 1st Congressional District race in which incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is facing challenger Democrat Christina Bohannan.
“That's why we're saying right now the polls are open till 8 o'clock,” Hart said. “Make sure you are doing everything you can to get there yourself, or to get somebody that you know that has not voted yet, get them to the polls because it could make all the difference.”
— Courtney Crowder
Complaint: Auditor Rob Sand acted unethically in handing out pizza to early voters Monday
A Republican political consultant filed a formal complaint Tuesday against state Auditor Rob Sand alleging unethical — and potentially criminal behavior — after Sand handed out pizzas while people were voting early Monday at the Polk County Election Office in downtown Des Moines.
The complaint from M. Luke Martz of Riverfront Strategy Group cites Iowa law that prohibits anyone from “treating voters” at a polling place or nearby.
Sand posted photos of himself to X with pizza outside of the Polk County Election Office on Monday, the last day of early voting.
“I gave hungry voters Little Caesars pizza," Sand told the Register. "If I wanted to treat them, I would’ve bought Casey’s.”
— Lee Rood
When do polls close in Iowa?
Polls will close 8 p.m., Central time in Iowa. If you are in line when polls close, you may still cast a ballot.
You can find your precinct at voterready.iowa.gov. Iowa also has same-day registration for new voters or if your information has changed.
— Brian Smith
How many electoral votes do Iowa, other states have?
Iowa voters will contribute six votes to the Electoral College.
A total of 538 electoral votes are up for grabs on Election Day and a presidential candidate needs to reach at least 270 votes to win.
Each state is awarded Electoral College votes based on how many members of Congress it has. The smallest states like South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming only get three votes. California has the largest number of Electoral College votes at 54. Although Washington D.C. does not have any members of Congress, it still receives three Electoral College votes.
— Brian Smith
More: What is the Electoral College? What to know for Election Day 2024
Voters cite the future of democracy as a top concern
The future of democracy in the United States is a key factor in voter’s decision at the ballot box, according to an AP VoteCast poll, mirroring findings reported in the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.
The Associated Press survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide found that about half of survey respondents reported democracy as the most important factor informing their votes.
The final Iowa Poll, released on Saturday, found 51% of those who prefer Vice President Kamala Harris listed the future of democracy as their top issue as well.
As for respondents who favored former President Donald Trump, the future of democracy came in third after inflation and the economy, as well as immigration, respectively. Of those who preferred Trump, 11% said they were thinking about the future of democracy in their decision to vote for him.
AP’s poll found high prices, abortion and the “situation at the U.S.-Mexico border” followed in importance for respondents. Four in 10 voters said high prices were the main driver of their vote, according to AP.
— Kate Kealey
More than 125,000 Election Day ballots cast in Polk County
Some Iowans are reporting long lines at polling places on Tuesday. A few counties are releasing preliminary turnout numbers.
Polk County is already seeing a higher Election Day turnout than it did in 2020, but many voters that year chose to vote absentee due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Polk County voter turnout*: 125,635 voters, as of 4 p.m. (Compared to 118,128 total Election Day voters in 2020 and 145,405 Election Day voters in 2016)
Black Hawk County voter turnout*: 23,687 voters, as of 4 p.m. (Compared to 25,807 total Election Day voters in 2020 and 37,963 Election Day voters in 2016)
Johnson County voter turnout*: 26,690 voters, as of 3 p.m. (Compared to 23,264 total Election Day voters in 2020 and 35,681 Election Day voters in 2016)
Scott County voter turnout*: 33,779 voters, as of 4 p.m. (Compared to 29,001 total Election Day voters in 2020 and 45,527 Election Day voters in 2016)
(* Note: Numbers are only in-person Election Day voters. Absentee numbers are not included)
Iowa has always had strong voter participation, but the state reached record levels in 2020.
2020 Iowa voter turnout: 1,001,573 voted absentee and 698,557 people voted on Election Day for 75.7% participation
2016 Iowa voter turnout: 934,219 voted on Election Day and 647,152 voted absentee for 72.7% participation.
(2016 and 2020 percentages were updated)
— Kate Kealey and Lee Rood
Additional voting machine helps Beaverdale cut down wait times
Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald said his employees delivered a second voting machine to a Beaverdale precinct Tuesday afternoon to cut down on wait times.
As of 3 p.m., he said, about 1,600 people had cast ballots Tuesday at the First Church of the Open Bible, located at 2200 Beaver Ave. He said more residents are voting there than on previous election days. His employees brought a second machine to the location around 2:15 p.m.
“Turnout’s been very heavy,” Fitzgerald said. “In the past, it’s worked out. This time, we should have had a second machine all day. We didn’t.”
He added that his office received reports about problems with the first machine at the location, which voters are still using. He said the machine is accurately counting and reading ballots. But voters are struggling to get the machines to pull in their ballots in the first place. Fitzgerald does not know what technical problem caused the hiccup.
Citing a precinct chair, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that the ballots are 1.5 millimeters too wide for the machines. Fitzgerald refuted that report, saying the chair would not be in a position to know the proper dimensions for a ballot.
“People are fired up,” Fitzgerald said. “People are overly sensitive. They should be. There’s a lot going on. Anytime people see something, they should say something. We appreciate that.”
— Tyler Jett
Story County will count ballots by hand
Story County vote watchers could be in for a long night.
Voting machines inside some precincts didn’t work Tuesday, and local political party leaders said election workers must count ballots by hand at those sites after polls close at 8 p.m.
Story County Auditor Lucy Martin said machines did not read “certain ballot styles” at about 12 of the county’s 45 polling locations.
“We don’t know why,” she said. “The ballots were tested. The machines were tested.”
Republicans have submitted more early votes
Of the 675,464 Iowans who voted early, roughly 40 percent — or 267,103 — were registered Republicans, according to the most recent data from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office.
Registered Democrats accounted for 38 percent of early voters, while Iowans registered with no party or a third party made up the remaining 22 percent.
— Cooper Worth
Ballot misspelling
Some Polk County ballots contain a typo in the wording of a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the gubernatorial line of succession, where "until" was misspelled as "unitl." The corrected spelling should be posted in all the voting booths, and the Iowa Secretary of State has said it's not an issue.
— Cooper Worth
Spending time in the waiting line
Long lines have been consistent so far this Election Day.
At the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in West Des Moines, where two Dallas County precincts are located, wait times were noted via handwritten paper towels scattered throughout the facility. One of the notes notifies voters of an hour-long wait until they can reach the voting booths.
— Cooper Worth
Early voting totals
Over 650,000 Iowans voted early before Election Day, according to the most recent data from the Iowa Secretary of State's office.
Here are the early voting totals for some of the state's largest counties as of 7 a.m. Nov. 5.
Polk: 88,320
Linn: 50,352
Johnson: 45,420
Scott: 42,438
Dallas: 25,731
Black Hawk: 24,912
Dubuque: 24,225
Woodbury: 20,898
Story: 17,862
— Cooper Worth
Voters brave the rain and lines to cast their votes
Polls in Iowa opened at 7 a.m., and lines started to form shortly after. At Ankeny First United Methodist Church at 710 NE 36th St., nearly 100 people filled the church hallways by 7:30 a.m. — escaping the rain outside and waiting to vote.
One Ankeny resident, De Taper, was among the first in line at the church when the polls opened. Taper, 70, said she voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for president.
"I'm sick of the negative rhetoric from [Donald Trump]," Taper said. "The Republican candidate has too many criminal cases going on for me to vote for him."
Another voter, Kayla Dang, was unsure whether she would vote in this election. Dang, 22, was eager to vote for the first time in 2020 but said her enthusiasm to vote in 2024 had diminished.
"I told my friends I wasn't going to vote, and then after, they were all basically shaming me for it, so I was like, 'You know what, they're right,' so here I am," Dang said.
Dang said she voted primarily for Democratic candidates this election, including for president.
"My views align more with Kamala Harris than Donald Trump," she said.
John Wehr, 54, voted on election day instead of an earlier date because he wanted to take his time researching the candidates.
"I'm an independent, and I wanted to get all the facts and assess each candidate's policy and character before rushing into a decision," he said.
Wehr said foreign security and financial stability were his top issues going into election day. Other voters, like Bryan Schwartz, 42, were more concerned with energy prices and immigration.
Schwartz, a Republican, said that while he voted for Donald Trump to be president, he would accept the election results even if his preferred candidate didn't win.
"I feel like in the state of Iowa, elections are done very well, and I feel like my vote is safe and secure, and I'm 100 confident in the process no matter the outcome," he said
— Cooper Worth
Voting difficulties in Story County
Some voting machines in Story County did not work Tuesday morning, according to KCCI.
Poll workers at those locations told voters to place their filled-out ballots in a bin, the news station reported. The Story County Auditor’s Office will request a recount for ballots at those locations.
County Auditor Lucy Martin did not immediately return the Des Moines Register’s call or email, seeking additional information. An Ames Tribune photo journalist said poll workers did not use the voting machines at Bethesda Lutheran Church on Northwestern Avenue when he photographed the location Tuesday morning.
The Register is tracking reported problems at polling locations around the state Tuesday. Residents who encounter problems can contact the Register. Until 3 p.m., contact investigative reporter Tyler Jett at 515-284-8215, [email protected] or [email protected]. After 3 p.m., contact watchdog reporter Lee Rood at 515-284-8549 or [email protected]. She also accepts messages on X @leerood or on Facebook at facebook.com/readerswatchdog.
— Tyler Jett
When do the election results come out?
Election laws vary by state. This can impact when states report results on Election night. Some states don't allow absentee processing to start until Election Day like in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania.
So when can Iowa voters expect Election Day results? Unofficial results are expected late this evening; results will be certified as official in the coming weeks.
What did the final Des Moines Register/ Mediacom Iowa Poll show before Election Day?
President: Kamala Harris has a 3-point lead over Donald Trump in the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. It's the first time a Democrat has led a Republican for president in Iowa this election cycle.
The most recent Iowa Poll released Saturday reported that Harris leads Trump in Iowa 47% to 44%. Since March, likely Iowa voters in the 2024 general election have been polled four times about which presidential candidate they plan to vote for in the election. When President Joe Biden was still in the race, Trump had garnered an 18 percentage point lead by June. Harris narrowed this gap in September, showing 4 points behind Trump.
Congressional Races: Democrats are now preferred in two of the four congressional races. Democrats hold an advantage in Iowa's 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, while Republicans still hold a lead in the 2nd and 4th districts.
— Kate Kealey
Iowa's 3rd Congressional District: Incumbent Zach Nunn faces off against Democrat Lanon Baccam
Iowans residing in the 3rd Congressional District will either reelect Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn or send Democrat Lanon Baccam to Congress. The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed voters in the district preferred a Democrat to a Republican by 7 percentage points. That is a swing from September's Iowa Poll where voters preferred a Republican by 8 percentage points.
Nunn is looking to maintain his seat in the U.S. House after winning Iowa's 3rd District in 2022. He has made immigration and the economy top priorities in his campaign. He also served in the Iowa Senate from 2018 to 2022 and the Iowa House of Representatives from 2014 to 2018.
Baccam has worked within the U.S. Department of Agriculture under former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. He is a combat veteran and the child of Laos immigrants who came to Iowa in 1980. He has used his family's immigration story heavily on the campaign trail as part of a pitch to unite Iowans.
Iowa's 3rd District covers 21 counties in central and southern Iowa including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Winterset, Osceola and Ottumwa.
— Kate Kealey
What are the constitutional amendments on Iowa ballots?
There are two constitutional amendments on the ballot this election.
One lowers Iowa's voting age from 21 to 18 years old to coincide with the U.S. Constitution. The amendment is a procedural change because the state must abide by the federal voting age of 18. The measure also proposes changing the language at the beginning of the amendment from “Every citizen of the United States” to “Only a citizen of the United States.”
For more information regarding the voting age and citizenship amendment in Iowa, check out this article by the Register’s Sabine Martin.
The second proposed amendment clarifies the line of succession if a governor leaves office. It makes clear that the lieutenant governor would assume the role of governor and be empowered to appoint a new lieutenant governor.
For more information about Iowa's constitutional amendment on gubernatorial succession, check out this article by the Register’s Stephen Gruber-Miller.
— Cooper Worth
Iowa's 1st Congressional District: Incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces repeat challenger Christina Bohannan
Iowa's 1st Congressional District race figures to be one of the closest high-profile races on Election Day.
Incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks and challenger Christina Bohannan will face off for a second straight election after the Republican bested the University of Iowa professor and former state representative by more than 20,000 votes in 2022.
Miller-Meeks is seeking her third term in office. In her first run in 2020, she squeaked out a victory over Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in what was then the state's 2nd Congressional District.
The Republican incumbent has focused her campaign by leaning on her record in Congress. In contrast, Bohannan has prioritized reproductive rights, criticizing Iowa Republicans and Miller-Meeks for policies she deems harmful to women.
For more information about the candidates on the ballot for Iowa's 1st district, check out this article by Iowa City Press-Citizen's Ryan Hansen.
— Cooper Worth
What's on your Iowa ballot?
When you go to vote on Nov. 5, the top of your Iowa ballot will feature known names such as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris along with their running mates. But as you make your way down the ticket, some races and candidate names may become less familiar.
Not only will 2024 Iowa general election ballots include two proposed constitutional amendments, but some counties also face ballot measures for multi-million dollar bonds for local projects.
Take a look at what's on your ballot.
— Kate Kealey
Judicial retention: Why are judges on the ballot in Iowa?
Iowans will decide whether nearly 70 judges, including a Supreme Court justice, will keep their jobs. While Iowa's judges are appointed, they are required to periodically face voters for retention. If a justice is removed, the governor would appoint a replacement.
This year's slate includes Supreme Court Justice David May, four Iowa Court of Appeals judges, and 64 district and associate judges. The latter will only appear on ballots for voters in their districts.
Justice May's retention has caught a lot of attention this election cycle after he joined the 4-3 majority of conservative justices that allowed Iowa's six-week abortion ban to take effect earlier this year. May was appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022, and now voters can say whether he should remain in his seat.
More: 13 Iowa races in the 2024 election we're watching
District and appellate judges serve six-year terms, while Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms.
For more information about Iowa judges up for reelection, check out this article by the Register’s William Morris.
— Cooper Worth
Polls are open
It's Election Day and polling places in Iowa opened at 7 a.m. this morning. Voters are assigned a polling place within their communities. To find your polling place, visit voterready.iowa.gov or your county auditor's website.
If you plan on voting in person today, you have to be in line before polls close at 8 p.m.
— Cooper Worth
How to register at the polls on Election Day
Iowa does allow voters to register to vote on Election Day at the correct polling location that corresponds with the voter's address. To do so, the voter must prove their identity and address. A valid Iowa driver's license with the voter's current address can meet both requirements.
Other forms of proof of ID include:
Iowa non-operator ID
Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
U.S. passport
U.S. military or veteran ID
ID card issued by an employer
Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
Tribal ID card/document
If your driver's license does not have your current address, or if you're using an ID without an address on it, you will also need to provide proof of residency.
The following documents (in paper or electronic form) can serve as proof of residence provided they are dated within the last 45 days:
Residential lease
Utility bill (including a cellphone bill)
Bank statement
Paycheck
Government check or other government document
Property tax statement
— Kate Kealey
Are ballot selfies legal in Iowa? Can I wear campaign gear? What's allowed on Election Day
Election laws vary by state, making it at times difficult to keep up and remember what the protocol is every year.
Aside from registering and bringing your ID, here are other election rules to know before you head to the polls, which are open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., in Iowa.
— Kate Kealey
What's on your ballot in Iowa?
At the top of a ballot will be the presidential race, but from there most races will vary depending on where you live in Iowa. Iowa tickets will have a front and a back, so voters should remember to turn their ballots over to ensure they vote for all their applicable races.
All four of Iowa's U.S. representative seats are up for election. Iowa House and Senate races will also appear on the ballot. Candidates and races will vary depending on where the voter's registered address.
Voters will also decide whether to retain Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May and various local judges up for retention.
There will also be two constitutional amendments for Iowans to either approve or deny. A number of county positions such as auditor, sheriff and supervisor will be on the ballot depending on the residence of a voter.
— Kate Kealey
Where do I find my polling place in Iowa? Here's how to find your precinct.
You can find your precinct on the Secretary of State's website, voterready.iowa.gov, by entering your ZIP code and address.
— Cooper Worth
How to report problems at the polls on Election Day in Iowa
If you witness questionable activity or have issues while at the polls, visit the Iowa Secretary of State's website on Election Security or call the office's voter hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE.
Poll watchers will be present across the nation for the general election. These non-government employees can observe parts of the election process, including looking at eligibility slips and challenging a voter's qualifications. However, they are restricted in what they can do during the election, such as being unable to handle ballots and voting equipment, solicit votes for candidates, or interrupt or talk to a voter while in line or while the voter is approaching the polling place.
Des Moines Register investigative reporters Tyler Jett and Lee Rood will be monitoring election day for any voting problems.
Jett can be reached from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 515-284-8215
Social media: @LetsJett on X
He also accepts encrypted messages at [email protected].
Contact Rood from 3-11 p.m. at:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 515-284-8549
Social media: @leerood on X or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.
Be sure to include your name and contact information so they can get back to you.
— Cooper Worth
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Election Day 2024: Republicans expand control in Iowa