What are Iowa's new voter ID requirements and when do they go into effect?

34 states, including Iowa, now have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls. Iowa's voter identification law, signed on May 5th of this year, will go into effect in 2018.

Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines says the new law is intended to provide an extra measure of security to ensure voter identify and reduce voter fraud.  

Beginning January 1st, registered voters will be asked to show their ID before voting at the polls. Registered voters who do not currently have an Iowa driver's license or a non-operator's ID -- only about 5 to 7 percent of Winneshiek County voters, according to Steines -- will automatically be issued a voter ID card for free by mail beginning in December. These voter ID cards must be signed before going to the polls.

Steines says 2018 will be a year of "soft implementaion" in order to make sure everyone is educated on the new requirements before full implementation begins in 2019. He explains, "During 2018, anyone who does not have their ID with them at the polls will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity and will still be allowed to cast a regular ballot." Voters requesting absentee ballots will be required to include their Iowa driver's license/non-operator's ID number or their voter ID card's PIN number on the absentee request form.

Beginning January 1st, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show an Iowa driver's license, non-operator's ID, passport, military ID, veteran's ID, or voter ID at the polls before they vote. Voters without an ID may cast a provisional ballot or have another registered voter attest to their identity.

A copy of Iowa's new voter ID requirements will be handed out at the polls.