Vote-By-Mail

Voting by mail allows you the convenience of voting from the comforts of home.

Absentee ballot request forms can be received 70 days or less before the election.

Request An Absentee Ballot

1. Download an Absentee Ballot Request Form (PDF).
2. Our office must have a written request from each individual voter wanting to vote by mail. Our office does not mail out ballots without a request.
3. The deadline for requesting a ballot to be mailed is 15 days before election day. The request must be physically in our office by 5 p.m.
4. Our office must receive the original request.
5. Submit the completed Absentee Ballot Request Form to the Linn County Election Services Office.
   1. Our mailing address is Linn County Election Services, 935 Second Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-2100.
   2. Emailed or faxed (319-892-5359) requests are not honored unless they are followed by the original. The original can be mailed but it must be postmarked on the pre-registration deadline. In addition, the request must be received by the time the polls close on Election Day.
6. Voted absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

Once the Election Services office has your completed absentee ballot request form, staff members will process your absentee ballot request form.

Absentee Ballot Delivery

When your ballot arrives, there will be additional items inside the delivery envelope:

• A ballot for your precinct.
• Instructions on how to complete your absentee ballot along with important dates related to absentee voting.
• Secrecy folder to keep your voted ballot a secret.
• A combined Affidavit/Return Envelope which requires your signature on the back side. The returned envelope is postage paid.