Dates and Deadlines

Monday, August 11: First day to file, cities of Iowa City and University Heights. File with auditor's office.

Monday, August 25: First day to file, all cities other than Iowa City and University Heights, and all school districts. City candidates (except West Branch) file with the auditor's office. School candidates file with the school district secretary.

Thursday, August 28: 5:00 PM filing deadline for cities of Iowa City and University Heights.

Monday, September 1: Labor Day, office closed.

Tuesday, September 2: Withdrawal and challenge deadline, Iowa City and University Heights. A city primary, if required, would become official on this date.

Thursday, September 18: 5:00 PM filing deadline, all cities other than Iowa City and University Heights, and all school districts.

Tuesday, September 23: Withdrawal and challenge deadline, all cities other than Iowa City and University Heights, and all school districts.

Tuesday, October 7: City primary if required, Iowa City or University Heights. (Other cities do not have a primary requirement.) 

Nomination Papers and Candidate Guides

• Nomination petition, city offices and school board
• Nomination petition, community college director
  
  If you have questions, check with our office before collecting signatures. No information may be changed on petitions after any voters have signed. We recommend completing the header information on one page, then making copies of that page so all information matches. Check carefully to see if your office is considered a seat "to fill vacancy." Election type should be "City/School" and election date should be 11/4/2025 (this includes primary cities).
   
• Affidavit of candidacy Must be notarized (notary service available at our office)
  
  Our office will provide one free copy of the nomination petition and affidavit. Additional copies are available at 50 cents a page.
   
• Secretary of State candidate guide for city candidates, primary cities (Iowa City, University Heights)
• Secretary of State candidate guide for city candidates, non-primary cities (all other cities)
• Secretary of State candidate guide for school board candidates
• Iowa City Code, campaign contribution limits (no school districts and no other cities have limits)

City Offices and Issues on Ballot

Additional offices or ballot issues may be added. File at auditor's office (except West Branch).
 

Iowa City

All terms four years.

Filing period August 11 - 28.

City Council At Large: Two to be elected. City Primary Election required if five or more candidates file. Candidates may live anywhere in the city. 166 signatures from anywhere in the city.

City Council District B: City Primary Election required if three or more candidates file. Candidates must live in District B (precincts 1, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24). 127 signatures from the district.

In the November 4 election, all voters in the city vote on all seats. If an October 7 primary is required, all voters in the city may vote on the at large seats, but only District B voters may vote on the district seat.

District Map

Iowa City Code, campaign contribution limits (no school districts and no other cities have limits)

Coralville

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 50 signatures.

Mayor (two year term)

City Council (three to be elected, four year term)

Hills

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 10 signatures.

Mayor (two year term)

City Council (two to be elected, four year term)

Lone Tree

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 10 signatures.

Mayor (two year term)

City Council (three to be elected, four year term)

City Council (one to be elected in a separate contest, two year term to fill vacancy)

North Liberty

All terms four years.

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 50 signatures.

Mayor

City Council (two to be elected)

Public Measure LZ - Local Option Sales and Services Tax (50% required)

Summary: To authorize imposition of a local sales and services tax in the City of North Liberty, Iowa at the rate of one percent (1 %) to be effective starting July 1, 2026. 

A local sales and services tax shall be imposed in the City of North Liberty, Iowa at the rate of one percent (1 %) to be effective starting July 1, 2026. 

Revenues from the sales and services tax shall be allocated and expended as follows:

50% for Property Tax Relief; and

50% for capital projects, including but not limited to, fire stations, community center upgrades, parks, trails, and other projects identified in the City’s Capital Improvements Plan; and for programs and initiatives that increase affordable housing supply and support neighborhood reinvestment projects, home improvement/renovation grants, rental rehabilitation, and other housing projects designated by City Council.

Oxford

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 10 signatures.

Mayor (two year term)

City Council (two to be elected, four year term)

City Council (one to be elected in a separate contest, two year term to fill vacancy)

Public Measure MA - Local Option Sales and Services Tax (50% required)

Summary: To authorize imposition of a local sales and services tax in the City of Oxford, Iowa at the rate of one percent (1%) to be effective from July 1, 2026. 

A local sales and services tax shall be imposed in the City of Oxford, Iowa at the rate of one percent (1%) to be effective from July 1, 2026. Revenues from the sales and services tax shall be allocated as follows: 

50% for property tax relief; 

The specific purposes for which the revenues shall otherwise be expended are: 

50% shall be used for projects including, but not limited to, and any other lawful purposes of the City of Oxford as determined from time-to-time by its City Council.

Shueyville

All terms four years.

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 10 signatures.

Mayor

City Council (two to be elected)

Public Measure LY - Local Option Sales and Services Tax (50% required)

Summary: To authorize imposition of a local sales and services tax in the City of Shueyville, 
Iowa at a rate of one percent (1 %) to be effective from January 1, 2026. 

A local sales and services tax shall be imposed in the City of Shueyville, Iowa at a rate of one percent (1 %) to be effective from January 1, 2026. 

Revenues from the sales and services tax shall be allocated as follows: 

50% for property tax relief 

The specific purposes for which the revenues shall otherwise be expended are: 

For any lawful purpose including, but not limited to, public infrastructure.

Solon

All terms four years.

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 25 signatures.

City Council (three to be elected)

Swisher

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 10 signatures.

Mayor (two year term to fill vacancy)

City Council (two to be elected, four year term)

Tiffin

Filing period August 25 - September 18. 25 signatures.

Mayor (two year term)

City Council (three to be elected, four year term)

University Heights

All terms two years.

Filing period August 11 - 28. 10 signatures.

Mayor - City Primary Election required if three or more candidates file.

City Council (five to be elected) - City Primary Election required if 11 or more candidates file.

West Branch

All terms four years. File with city clerk.

Filing period August 25 - September 18.

Mayor

City Council (two to be elected)

Contact Cedar County Auditor for more information.

School Offices and Issues on Ballot

Additional offices or ballot issues may be added. All terms four years unless noted. Filing period August 25 to September 18. All school board candidates file with the school district secretary. Area X (Kirkwood) director candidates: file at AEA office (in Cedar Rapids).
 

Iowa City Community School District

50 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

Clear Creek Amana Community School District

50 signatures. Petition signatures for all seats may be from anywhere in the school district.

All voters in the school district vote on all seats. At large candidates may live anywhere in the school district. Candidates for district seats must live in the director district.

School Board Director At Large (one to be elected, four year term)

School Board Director District 2 (one to be elected, four year term)

School Board Director District 3 (one to be elected, two year term to fill vacancy)

School Board Director District 4 (one to be elected, four year term)

Clear Creek Amana Director District Map

Lone Tree Community School District

17 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

Solon Community School District

50 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

School Board Director (one to be elected in a separate contest, two year term to fill vacancy)

Kirkwood Merged Area X Area Education Agency

50 signatures from director district. Four year terms. Candidates must live in the district, and only voters within the district vote on each seat. File at AEA office (in Cedar Rapids).

Director District 1 Map

Director District 3 Map

College Community School District

50 signatures. Petition signatures for all seats may be from anywhere in the school district.

All terms four years. All voters in the school district vote on all seats. At large candidates may live anywhere in the school district. Candidates for district seats must live in the director district.

School Board Director At Large (one to be elected)

School Board Director District 2 (one to be elected)

School Board Director District 5 (one to be elected)

Contact Linn County Auditor for more information.

Highland Community School District

28 signatures. Petition signatures for all seats may be from anywhere in the school district.

All terms four years. All voters in the school district vote on all seats. Candidates for district seats must live in the director district.

School Board Director District 1 (one to be elected)

School Board Director District 3 (one to be elected)

School Board Director District 5 (one to be elected)

Contact Washington County Auditor for more information.

Lisbon Community School District

24 signatures.

School Board Director (two to be elected, four year term)

Contact Linn County Auditor for more information.

Mid-Prairie Community School District

50 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

Contact Washington County Auditor for more information.

Mt. Vernon Community School District

50 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

Contact Linn County Auditor for more information.

West Branch Community School District

36 signatures.

School Board Director (two to be elected, four year term)

Contact Cedar County Auditor for more information.

West Liberty Community School District

37 signatures.

School Board Director (two to be elected, four year term)

Contact Muscatine County Auditor for more information.

Williamsburg Community School District

47 signatures.

School Board Director (three to be elected, four year term)

Contact Iowa County Auditor for more information.

Dates and deadlines

• Tuesday, August 26: First day auditor's office can accept requests for mailed absentee ballots, 70 days before election day. Requests received before this date will be returned to the voter, as required by law.
• Monday, September 1: Labor Day, office closed.
• Tuesday, October 7: City Primary Election in Iowa City and/or University Heights, if required. (Other cities do not have a primary requirement.)
• Monday, October 13: Johnson County does not observe the federal Columbus Day holiday and our office will be open.
• Wednesday, October 15: First day absentee ballots can be mailed and first day in person early voting is allowed by state law. Note that ballots are not required to be ready by this date. More information on when voting will start will be available closer to Election Day.
• Monday, October 20: Voter pre-registration deadline and deadline to request mailed ballot, 5 PM. In person early voting and election day registration are still available after this deadline.
• Monday, November 3: Last day for in person early voting at auditor's office.
• Tuesday, November 4: Election Day. Polls open 7 AM to 8 PM. Vote at regular polling places. All domestic mailed absentee ballots must arrive at auditor's office before the polls close at 8 PM in order to be counted.

Early voting schedule will be posted closer to the election.

Dates and deadlines:

• Tuesday, August 26: First day auditor's office can accept requests for mailed absentee ballots, 70 days before election day. Requests received before this date will be returned to the voter, as required by law.
• Wednesday, October 15: First day absentee ballots can be mailed and first day in person early voting is allowed by state law. Note that ballots are not required to be ready by this date. More information on when voting will start will be available closer to Election Day.
• Monday, October 20: Deadline to request mailed ballot, 5 PM. In person early voting is still available after this deadline.
• Monday, November 3: Last day for in person early voting at auditor's office.
• Tuesday, November 4: Election Day. All domestic mailed absentee ballots must arrive at auditor's office before the polls close at 8 PM in order to be counted.

Polling Place Lookup (Interactive Map)

List of polling places. Polls open 7 AM to 8 PM.