The short version.
The Iowa voter registration file is a public record you request from the state elections office. You pay a fee, sign a use affidavit, and get the list of registered voters for your district — names, addresses, and registration details. Then you hand it to Motion51 and we load it, geocode it, and cut your turf.
Iowa is cheap and priced by the number of voters you request. You order from the Secretary of State's office (statewide and congressional-district lists must come from the state, not the counties), email delivery is free, and a local jurisdiction typically costs only a few dollars.
Where to request it.
- Office
- Iowa Secretary of State - Office of the State Registrar of Voters (I-Voters system)
- Contact
- office: State Registrar of Voters, Iowa Secretary of State | address: Lucas State Office Building, First Floor, 321 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50319 | phone: (515) 281-0145 | fax: (515) 281-4682 | email: voterlist@sos.iowa.gov
What it costs.
Approximately $10 minimum for the first 20,000 records or fewer, plus $0.50 per additional 1,000 records (roughly $1 per 2,000 voters). Statewide subscription with periodic updates reported at approximately $1,500/year. Format surcharges may apply for CD or paper; email delivery is free.
How to request it, step by step.
- Download the Voter Registration List Request form (voterlistrequest.pdf) from sos.iowa.gov.
- Complete and sign the use-restriction affidavit -- Iowa limits use to political, official, or bona-fide-research purposes (Iowa Code 48A.38/48A.39).
- Pick your scope; the fee scales with how many voters are in it (a small jurisdiction is often around $10).
- Submit by email, fax, or mail and pay. Choose free email delivery, or pay a surcharge for CD or paper.
- Expect the list within about 14 calendar days.
How long it takes.
Up to 14 calendar days from receipt of completed request and payment; delays expected around major elections (general/primary cycles).
Use restrictions — read before you order.
Iowa Code 48A.38/48A.39. Permitted uses limited to: requesting a registrant's vote, genuine political purpose, bona fide political research, or bona fide official purpose by an elected official. Commercial use is a serious misdemeanor. Resale or redistribution without written permission of the State Registrar is an aggravated misdemeanor. Requester must sign a sworn affidavit listing intended use; misuse can result in criminal prosecution. No residency limitation on requesters.
Costs, forms, and rules change between cycles. Always confirm the current details on the official Iowa page linked above before you send payment. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Iowa voter file FAQ.
How much does the Iowa voter file cost?
It's priced by voter count -- often around $10 for a small jurisdiction, scaling up from there. Email delivery is free; CD or paper adds a surcharge. Confirm exact pricing on the order form.
Can I use it for my campaign?
Yes. Iowa permits political, official, and bona-fide-research use; commercial use is a serious misdemeanor (Iowa Code 48A.38/48A.39).
How long does it take?
Up to 14 calendar days from a complete request and payment, and longer around major elections.
Do I have to load the file into Motion51 myself?
No -- send us the Iowa file and we load it, geocode it, and cut your turf.
Once you have the file, Motion51 takes it from there.
Getting the file is the errand. The campaign is what happens next: loading tens of thousands of addresses, putting them on a map, cutting them into walkable turf, and tracking every door. That's what Motion51 does.
Send us the file the state gives you and we load it in, geocode the addresses, and set up your district so volunteers can start knocking. The app works offline for the stretches where cell coverage drops, and every door is logged with a timestamp. If you're weighing a race in Iowa, our For Candidates page walks through the next steps.