November 5, 2019
City/School Election
Beginning in 2019, School and City Elections will be combined and held in November of odd-numbered years. A City election is used to elect the Mayor and Council Members and any other elected city officials. In Pottawattamie, the cities of Carter Lake and Council Bluffs have provisions where if enough candidates file to run for Mayor or City Council a city primary election would be held in October to determine the candidates for the regular city election in November. The city of Avoca has a runoff election provision. A School Election is an election to select School Board members for school districts within Pottawattamie County.
Dates and Deadlines
- July 8: First day to request an absentee ballot be mailed.
- August 12 - 29: Filing Period for cities of Council Bluffs and Carter Lake.
- August 26 - September 19: Filing Period for School Board and all other cities.
- October 8: City Primary Election for Cities of Council Bluffs and Carter Lake, if needed.
- October 14: Absentee Voting Available
- October 25: Pre-registration deadline and mailed absentee ballot request deadline.
- November 4: Last day for in-person early voting at Auditor's Office.
- November 5: Election Day.
Poll Hours
Important information
- Voter ID will be required on Election Day. Voters going to the polls on Election Day will be required to provide ID in order to cast a regular ballot. The "oath option" that was available in 2018 is no longer an option.
- Voter ID number or Voter PIN is required when requesting an absentee ballot. Effective October 1, 2019, voters are required to provide either their driver's license or non-operator's ID number or their four digit voter PIN when requesting an absentee ballot be mailed to them or when voting absentee at the courthouse.
- Voters will vote at their General Election polling place. All 40 of the county's polling places will be open and voters will vote at their General Election polling place. Due to the new combined city and school election there will not be separate school election polling places or consolidated polling places for city elections.