Story County, Iowa
Your guide to voting in Story County, Iowa: registration, sample ballots, ID requirements and where to get local help. Home to about 102,000 people, Story County ranks 8th in population among Iowa's 99 counties. In Iowa, the county auditor is the county's commissioner of elections and handles registration, absentee ballots and polling places.
Next Election
June 6, 2028
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register online or by mail at least 15 days before an election; you can also register in person, including on Election Day.
Why Voting Matters
In Story County, the people who show up to vote decide who represents everyone. The next election for Story County voters is Iowa's primary election on June 6, 2028; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. Local work in health care and retail means debates over health care costs directly affect Story County families.
In the 2024 presidential election, about 49,200 ballots were cast in Story County, down about 4% from 51,000 in 2020. With roughly 83,800 adults living in the county, that is around 59% of adult residents, below the statewide rate of about 65%.
Put another way, about 34,600 adults in Story County sat that election out. Not all of them can vote, but if even 5% of them did, that would be roughly 1,730 more ballots, often more than the margin in races for local councils, school boards, the legislature or Congress.
Story County covers about 573 square miles, with roughly 179 residents per square mile. The county is home to about 3.2% of Iowa's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Story County include 50010, 50011, 50012, 50013, 50014, 50046, 50055 and 50056, plus 17 more. Check that your registration is current, look up your sample ballot, and make a plan to vote. Then ask a friend or family member in Story County to do the same.
Voter Assistance Resources
Questions about voting in Story County? In Iowa, the county auditor is the county's commissioner of elections and handles registration, absentee ballots and polling places. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Story County auditor.
Direct link, Iowa Secretary of State county auditor contact page:
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditor.asp?CountyID=85&btnGo=Go
Statewide directory, Iowa Secretary of State's county auditor list:
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/index.html
See your sample ballot. Iowa Secretary of State general election page (sample ballots come from your county auditor):
https://sos.iowa.gov/general-election
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
Free, nonpartisan help is available before and on every Election Day: call or text the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Story County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Disability Rights Iowa, Iowa's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (800) 779-2502. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our Iowa voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Story County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
Take the Next Step
Find volunteer opportunities, visit the voting resources page, or shop sustainable products.
Buy the book that led to the creation of this website: Peace is Active by Tom McCann
Share what you’re doing for peace on social media with #peaceisactive