The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
| Date | Event / Deadline |
|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | First day to submit an Absentee Ballot Request (70 days before Election Day) |
| October 14, 2026 | First day absentee ballots can be mailed and in-person absentee voting begins (20 days before Election Day) |
| October 19, 2026 | Pre-registration deadline for voters (5:00 p.m.) (15 days before Election Day) |
| October 19, 2026 | Deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot (5:00 p.m.) (15 days before Election Day) |
| November 2, 2026 | Last day for in-person absentee voting (closes at 4:30 p.m.) |
| November 3, 2026 | Voted absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. |
| November 3, 2026 | Election Day: Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
The pre-registration deadline for voter registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026.
After the pre-registration deadline, you must prove who you are (ID) and where you live (residence). The best document to bring is your valid Iowa driver's license with your current address. Election Day Registration can be completed at your polling place on Election Day, when voting absentee in person at the courthouse, or when voting absentee in person at a satellite location.
Voters registering after October 19 should expect a longer processing time.
More Information on Registering to Vote
Requests for absentee ballots must be in writing and should be mailed or delivered to:
Black Hawk County Elections
316 E. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Election Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Voters casting their absentee ballot under UOCAVA or Safe at Home should review their absentee ballot instructions for additional guidance.
More Information on Absentee Voting
Absentee voting in person (early voting) is available at the Black Hawk County Courthouse and at the satellite locations listed below. Any eligible Black Hawk County voter may vote at the courthouse or at any satellite location. Voters will need to provide identification when voting absentee in person. View acceptable forms of voter identification
At the Courthouse (Basement Conference Room)
At Satellite Locations
Satellite locations are open only on the dates and hours listed below.
| Location | Date | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| UNI Maucker Union (On the UNI Campus) 1015 Maucker Rd Cedar Falls, IA 50614 |
Wednesday, October 14 Thursday, October 15 |
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Friday, October 16 | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | |
| Cedar Valley SportsPlex 300 Jefferson St Waterloo, IA 50701 |
Saturday, October 17 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Diamond Event Center 5307 Caraway Ln Cedar Falls, IA 50613 |
Wednesday, October 21 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church 2015 Rainbow Dr Cedar Falls, IA 50613 |
Saturday, October 24 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 E Donald St Waterloo, IA 50703 |
Saturday, October 24 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Friendship Village 600 Park Ln Waterloo, IA 50702 |
Wednesday, October 28 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| First Baptist Church 434 Baltimore St Waterloo, IA 50701 |
Thursday, October 29 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Extended hours are available at the Election Office for voter registration and absentee voting. In addition to regular hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), extended office hours will be:
View examples of acceptable voter identification
