New restriction (partially) in place in 2018: Iowa’s governor signed a broad-based law that will require voter ID (starting after the 2018 election), restrict voter registration efforts, and impose new burdens on Election Day registration and early and absentee voting. Although not as restrictive as a North Carolina law that passed in 2013 (and was blocked by a federal court), Iowa’s law similarly restricts voting in a number of different ways.

In 2019, following a trial, an Iowa state court largely upheld the law, but struck down its absentee ballot signature-matching provisions and modified other provisions related to voter ID and absentee voting. (For additional information, click here.) 

Restriction(s) in place for the first time in 2012: Made it harder to restore voting rights to people with past criminal convictions.

Original effective date: 2011

Background: In 2011, Gov. Terry Branstad (R) reversed a prior executive action that had made it easier to restore voting rights to people with past criminal convictions. In effect, the state now permanently disenfranchises most citizens with past felony convictions.