Waukee, Iowa Public Records

This office manages the range of election responsibilities: voter registration, maintaining voter rolls, conducting early voting, issuing absentee ballots, certifying candidates, publishing sample ballots, and tabulating results. Iowa residents can register to vote online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html through the Secretary of State's website. The requirements are straightforward - voters must be U.S. Citizens, Iowa residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently prohibited from voting due to felony conviction. Those who have completed their sentences automatically regain voting rights in Iowa. Registration must be completed at least 10 days before an election, though the state also offers Election Day registration at the polls with proper identification. Acceptable IDs include an Iowa driver's license, Iowa non-operator ID, U.S. Passport, military ID, tribal ID, or other approved documents. Voters without ID can have someone attest to their identity. The city holds municipal elections for mayor and city council members. Waukee operates under a council-manager form of government with a mayor and six council members, some elected at-large and others by ward. Regular city elections occur in odd-numbered years, typically the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next municipal election is scheduled for November 2025, when several council seats will be on the ballot. Candidates file nomination papers with the Dallas County Auditor's office. Local ballot measures occasionally appear as well - bond issues for school facilities or city infrastructure projects that require voter approval. Residents can find their assigned polling place by using the lookup tool at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/pollingplace.html or by contacting the Dallas County Auditor's office. Polling places are assigned by residential address and precinct boundaries. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. To 9:00 p.m. On Election Day. Iowa makes extensive election records available to the public. Voter registration lists can be purchased by campaigns and political parties, and individual voter history, whether someone voted, not how they voted, is also public. Campaign finance reports are filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and searchable at https://www.iowa.gov/ethics. Candidate filings, including nomination papers and financial disclosures, are maintained by the Dallas County Auditor and the Secretary of State. Precinct-level election results for all races are published by the Dallas County Auditor after certification, providing detailed breakdowns of votes cast in each Waukee precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Dallas County saw strong voter turnout with approximately 65-70% of registered voters participating, reflecting Iowa's traditionally high engagement in presidential contests. Local precincts generally matched the county average, with some exceeding 75% participation. Detailed precinct results are available on the Dallas County website. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters will decide several important races. Iowa will hold elections for all four U.S. House seats, including the 3rd Congressional District which covers Waukee. State-level races will include all 100 Iowa House of Representatives seats and half of the 50 Iowa Senate seats; the area is part of state legislative districts represented by Republican majorities. Dallas County offices up for election in 2026 include County Supervisor seats, County Attorney, County Recorder, County Treasurer, and County Sheriff, all four-year terms. No U.S. Senate seat from Iowa is up in 2026 - that won't happen until 2028. The Iowa Governor's race will also appear on the 2026 ballot. Voters should verify specific races closer to the election as candidate filings occur in early 2026. Iowa offers several absentee voting options. Voters can request an absentee ballot by mail through the Dallas County Auditor's office or online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterabsentee/absenteeform.html. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Dallas County Auditor no later than 10 days before the election for mail delivery, or by 3:00 p.m. The day before the election for in-person pickup. Completed ballots must be received by the Dallas County Auditor by 9:00 p.m. On Election Day. Iowa also offers early voting in person at the Dallas County Auditor's office beginning 29 days before the election, with extended hours in the final week. No excuse is required for absentee voting in Iowa. The Dallas County Auditor's office maintains a satellite early voting location in Waukee during some major elections to improve access for western Dallas County voters.