What to know before you go to the polls in Iowa on Election Day

Election Day is almost here, your last opportunity to vote in the important 2022 midterms.

U.S. Senate, Congress, governor, attorney general, auditor, agriculture secretary, treasurer and secretary of state are all on the ballot, as well as a constitutional amendment, state legislative races, state judges and county offices.

Here's what you should know before you go.

When are polls open in Iowa?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.

How do I find my polling place?

To find your polling place, go to the Iowa Secretary of State website and enter your name and ZIP code. The website will tell you if you are a registered voter and where your polling place is located. Scroll to the bottom of this article for additional information on voting, registration and required identification.

More:2022 Iowa Election Results

How to find live results

We'll be reporting throughout the day as the election proceeds and then gathering results with the most comprehensive election coverage you can find in Iowa. Check back at DesMoinesRegister.com or download the free Des Moines Register app for iPhone or Android for instant access to results and coverage. Turn on breaking news notifications to get alerts as key races are called and get the latest analysis Wednesday from across the nation.

More:2022 Iowa local election results

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Who's on my ballot?

We've gathered a handy guide to the key races as well as stories that examine how candidates compare on key issues. Start your research with these links:

Complete guide:Who's on my ballot in the Iowa 2022 midterm election?

More:See where Iowa candidates stand on key issues in the 2022 midterm elections

County auditors also post lists of sample ballots so you can look up which races you'll be voting on before you go to your polling place.

Here is Polk County's list of polling locations and sample ballots.

Here is Dallas County's list of sample ballots.

Voting problems? See something suspicious at your precinct? Let us know

If you run into troubles when voting, such as if you find exceedingly long lines, you’re turned away at the polls, a poll watcher makes you feel uncomfortable or anything else feels out of the ordinary, email the Des Moines Register at IowaVotingIssues@gannett.com.

We will be monitoring the inbox and may contact you for more information, which could be included in a story. You can also call Register reporter Lee Rood at (515) 778-6670.

To inform officials about any problems you experience, contact your county auditor or the Iowa secretary of state at 888-SOS-VOTE.

Voters ride DART free on Election Day

All DART Local, Express, On Demand and On Call services are free on Election Day. Polls in Polk County will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but DART is free to ride all day.

You can use the MyDART Trip Planner or go through the MyDART app to find your route to the voting booths. You can also use the Transit option through Google Maps.

Free rides will be provided to paratransit customers to and from polling locations. You must schedule your ride at least 24 hours in advance. Paratransit service operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call (515) 283-8136 to schedule your Paratransit trip to vote.

Riders with questions about DART’s services may email DART Customer Service at dart@ridedart.com, call (515) 283-8100 or ask in-person at the DART Central Station.

Unsure if you're registered to vote? Need to register? Here's help

Iowa has some information to help you out.

Go to the Iowa Secretary of State website and enter your name and Zip code. The website will tell you if you are a registered voter and where your polling place is located.

Not registered? Election Day registration is available that will allow you to cast a vote. But you must go the polling place for your current address.

You can find that here.

You'll need to prove your identity and where you live. The easiest way is to show a valid Iowa driver's license with your current address.

For the purpose of Election Day registration, acceptable forms of ID are:

• Iowa driver's license

• 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 employer

• Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

• Tribal ID card/document

• Iowa voter identification card

Details:How to vote in Iowa's 2022 elections for governor, US Senate, state Legislature

No current address on your photo ID? You can use one of these to prove where you live if it has your name and current address and it's less than 45 days old:

• Residential lease

• Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)

• Bank statement

• Paycheck

• Government check or other government document

• Property tax statement

Still out of luck? If you don't have any of those things, you can have a registered voter from your district attest for you. But both of you must sign an oath swearing your statements are true.

Registration fraud is a class D felony punishable by a fine up to $10,245 and five years in prison.

It's illegal to intimidate, threaten or interfere with voters at the polls

Voters in Iowa have the right to cast their ballots without being interrupted or hindered, and Iowa law has penalties for interfering in the voting process.

Someone commits first-degree election misconduct when they intimidate, threaten or coerce a voter — or attempt to do so — in order to pressure voter into registering to vote or voting, or to keep them from registering or voting.

First-degree election misconduct is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Someone commits third-degree election misconduct by loitering, congregating, electioneering, posting signs or soliciting votes within 300 feet of a polling place, or by interrupting, hindering or opposing a voter approaching a polling place. Submitting a false statement about whether someone is eligible to cast a ballot, interfering with a voter casting their vote, marking a ballot for the purpose of identifying it or trying to induce a voter to show how they have marked their ballot are also grounds for the charge.

Third-degree election misconduct is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

Can people who have been convicted of felonies vote in Iowa?

In 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring voting rights to most people with felony convictions once they have completed their sentences, including any parole or probation.

Before the executive order, Iowa had been the last state in the nation to ban all people with felony convictions from voting, even after the completion of their sentences, unless they applied individually to the governor’s office to have their rights restored.

The executive order does not apply to those convicted of homicide offenses or certain serious sex offenses that carry a lifetime special sentence of supervision. Those people can still apply directly to the governor to have their rights restored.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Voting tips and advice for Iowa voters ahead of Election Day 2022