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Youth Straw Poll
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Thank you for visiting the Iowa Youth Straw Poll webpage! The next Iowa Youth Straw Poll will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8AM. Stay tuned for more information regarding sign-up dates in the coming Spring 2026!

What is the Iowa Youth Straw Poll?

This statewide event gives students across Iowa a chance to engage in the democratic process by voting in a mock election. It's a powerful and fun way to encourage civic participation and inspire the next generation of voters.

Will you help organize the 2026 Iowa Youth Straw Poll at your school? It only takes five easy steps:

Step 1: Sign up for the Iowa Youth Straw Poll (registration date TBA).
Step 2: Promote the Straw Poll with students, teachers, your school district, and any civics/youth organizations.
Step 3: Receive your Action Kit from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
Step 4: Step 4: Conduct your Straw Poll BEFORE 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (or in the days leading up to it). Official candidate information will be available both on this page and in your Action Kit come Fall 2026. If you don't want to hand count paper ballots, feel free to use any online survey application to compile your school's or organization's votes.
Step 5: Report your school's results using the instructions provided in your confirmation email. The Secretary of State’s Office will post the statewide results in real time.

Materials
  • Resources will be uploaded leading up to Fall 2026 when sign-up opens

OUR HASHTAG FOR THE IOWA YOUTH STRAW POLL: #BEAVOTER

Outside the classroom participation:
Use the hashtag #BeAVoter on any social media posts when attending campaign events, experiencing the voting process, or even during the Iowa Youth Straw Poll. The Secretary of State's Office may share or feature them in its social media and press releases.

Together, we can make #BeAVoter trend and showcase your civic engagement!

Elections 101

This FREE curriculum is available completely online. It is customizable so that you can choose to use some (or all) of the 10-day curriculum, and utilize the various 30, 60 or 90-minute lesson plans. Two new chapters highlight Winning the Vote (Women's Suffrage) and Women's Participation in Politics in the United States and Iowa as part of the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Written by Iowa teachers for Iowa classrooms, the lessons are compliant with Iowa Core requirements for Political Science-Civic Literacy.

For any questions or information regarding the 2026 IYSP please reach out to Julia Pedroza at Julia.Pedroza@sos.iowa.gov.