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Iowa has a long history as a presidential battleground state, but when voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, it's the races further down the ballot that may get the most attention.Video above: Local Republicans, Democrats encourage voting early ahead of Election DayVoters will decide competitive U.S. House contests that could decide control of the chamber, as well as state legislative races that could hand Iowa Republicans a veto-proof supermajority. They'll also consider statewide ballot measures that would require citizenship to vote and modify the line of succession for governor.Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will compete for the state's six electoral votes. Iowa had among the narrowest presidential vote margins in the 2000 and 2004 elections, when it voted for Democrat Al Gore and then for Republican George W. Bush. Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win the state in 2008 and 2012.Changes in the state's political leanings since then may have pushed Iowa further out of reach for Democrats. The GOP holds all of Iowa's congressional seats, the governorship, most statewide offices and lopsided majorities in the state Legislature. Trump won Iowa by comfortable margins in 2016 and 2020. This year, neither candidate nor their running mates have visited Iowa since becoming their parties' nominees.In the race for the closely divided U.S. House, two Republican incumbents face competitive reelection bids. In the 1st District, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a rematch with Democrat Christina Bohannan, a former state senator who lost to Miller-Meeks in 2022 by a 7-point margin. In the 3rd District, Republican Rep. Zach Nunn seeks a second term against Democrat Lanon Baccam, a former USDA administrator. Trump won the Des Moines-area district by a margin of just 0.4 percentage points. Democrats need a net gain of only a few seats to regain control of the U.S. House.In the state Legislature, Republicans already enjoy large majorities in both chambers and need to pick up a few more state House seats for a supermajority, although they already control the governorship.One Iowa Supreme Court Justice is up for retention this year, along with more than 60 other judges statewide.Voters will also consider two constitutional amendments. One would prohibit state and local governments from allowing non-citizens to vote and would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election. The other measure would clarify the line of succession if the state's lieutenant governor were to become governor.Important dates for Iowa votersWednesday, Oct. 16: Early voting begins; Iowa county auditors will begin sending out requested absentee ballots.Monday, Oct. 21: Deadlines for voter pre-registration, requesting absentee ballotsMonday, Nov. 4: Final day for in-person absentee votingTuesday, Nov. 5 — Election Day: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m.What's on my ballot?Iowans within ����vlog's designated market area can use the map below to find their sample ballots. Not all county auditors have posted or will post their sample ballots online. In those cases, call your county auditor to discuss ways to see a sample ballot.APP USERS: Can't click the links in the map? Click here for the best viewing experienceSee how each Iowa county has voted in the past 6 presidential electionsCheck out the interactive maps below for a county-by-county look at the election results for the past six presidential elections in Iowa.Here's a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in IowaElection Day: Nov. 5Polls open: 7 a.m.Polls close: 8 p.m.Presidential electoral votes: 6 awarded to statewide winner.Key races and candidates:President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Claudia De la Cruz (Party for Socialism and Liberation) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We The People) and two others.1st Congressional District: Rep. Miller-Meeks (R) vs. Bohannan (D)3rd Congressional District: Rep. Nunn (R) vs. Baccam (D)Ballot measures: Amendment 1 (require citizenship to vote and modify voting age)Other races of interest:U.S. House, state Senate, state House and Amendment 2 (modify gubernatorial succession).Past presidential results:2020: Trump (R) 53%, Biden (D) 45%, AP race call: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, 11:21 a.m.Voter registration and turnoutRegistered voters: 2,234,201 (as of Oct. 1, 2024).Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 74% of registered voters.Pre-Election Day votingVotes cast before Election Day 2020: about 59% of the total vote.Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 30% of the total vote.Votes cast before Election Day 2024: 394,320 as of Oct. 28How long does vote-counting take?First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:11 p.m.By 11 p.m.: about 82% of total votes cast were reported.Iowa elections: Frequently asked questionsWho can vote in Iowa?To register to vote, a qualified voter must be: An Iowa resident, a U.S. citizen and 18 years old by Election Day.Who is not eligible to vote?Iowans are not eligible to vote if they are a convicted felon – unless their voting rights have been restored; deemed mentally incompetent to vote by a court, or have claimed the right to vote in any other place.How can I register to vote?People who meet the voting requirements can register to vote online, by submitting a voter registration form to their local county auditor’s office, or through same-day voter registration on Election Day. Iowans must provide proof of identity and proof of residence to register. This requirement can be met using ID cards like an Iowa driver’s license, U.S. passport or non-operator ID. If the identification card does not contain the voter’s current address, they are required to bring an additional document showing their current name and address, like a residential lease, utility bill or paycheck.How do I vote absentee?Iowans who are registered to vote are able to request absentee ballots for the general election from Aug. 27 to Oct. 21. Voters must submit an absentee ballot request to their county auditor’s office to receive a ballot by mail. Request forms can be downloaded from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, which can then be returned in person or by mail to their county auditor. The request form requires voters to include verification of their identity using the ID number on their driver’s license or non-operator’s ID, or with the four-digit PIN found on their voter identification card. County auditors will begin sending out ballots for the upcoming election on Oct. 16. Absentee ballots must be received by their local county auditor’s office by the time polls close on Election Day to be counted – this year, by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.How do I vote on Election Day?To vote on Election Day, Iowans will have to head to their polling place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Polls are determined by the voter’s home address, and can be found using the Secretary of State’s website. Iowans can register to vote at their polling location on Election Day if they are not already registered by bringing proof of identity and citizenship. Registered voters are also required to bring along identification. Valid IDs include: 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, or tribal ID card/document. People who do not have a form of identification with them can still cast a ballot on Election Day if another registered voter at the precinct attests for their identity. If the voter does not have either an ID or someone willing to attest for them, the person can still cast a provision ballot, with the requirement that they return with a valid form of identification to have their vote counted up until the time of county canvass of votes, this year set for Nov. 13. People who have requested an absentee ballot but did not return it can also vote in person if they have not returned their ballot by Election Day. The voter has the choice to surrender their absentee ballot at their polling location and vote using a regular ballot, or in cases where they are not able to return it, can cast a provisional ballot.More Commitment 2024 coverageInformation from the Iowa Secretary of State and Iowa Capital Dispatch was used in this article.