When do you vote? Why should you vote? How do you find your polling place? We’ve got you covered.
Vote on November 7th
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How do I vote?
To vote in Iowa you need to be registered to vote. You can register online or at your voting location. To learn more about how to vote, including information on voter registration, visit the Iowa Secretary of State website: sos.iowa.gov or call 1-888-SOS-VOTE (1-888-767-8683).
Where do I vote?
Find your polling place online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx
How can I learn about my local candidates?
Local newspapers and local forums are excellent resources to learn about the different candidates. Also, with it being a more local election, a lot of candidates will have websites with contact information that allows you to personally email or call them.
For some counties your local county auditor provides information on the candidates. To find your local county auditor click here: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditorslist.html.
Why should I vote?
5 reasons why Christians should care about government and voting:
1. GOVERNMENT WAS INSTITUTED BY GOD
Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 show us that government was instituted by God, created with a purpose and responsibility: to punish evil and reward those who do good. Government is God’s social institution of justice, a value so important to God, His Son was killed on the Cross to satisfy its requirements.
2. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE MINISTERS OF GOD
Romans 13 calls government officials “ministers” of God, meaning they are, in effect, servants of the Lord. Just as pastors are ministers of the Church, elected officials are ministers of God in government, and they have a job to do for Him. This should change the way we view our elected officials. This is why the Bible calls us to pray, submit, and honor those in authority (1 Timothy 2, Romans 13, 1 Peter 2).
3. GOVERNMENT CANNOT PROPERLY DO ITS JOB WITHOUT THE CHURCH
How do governments of the world determine good and evil? Left on their own, governments often get it wrong. Government needs the Church to provide a standard and to give sound counsel on what the Lord has called good and evil.
4. LAW MATTERS
The law has never been able to save, but it is a moral teacher and shaper of culture. For righteous leaders pass laws that guide society toward what is right and protect people by making it more difficult to sin and easier to pursue righteousness.
5. YOU GET TO CHOOSE
As Americans, we get to choose our ministers of government. As Christians we know what God expects of government. He also expects us to be good stewards of this opportunity and select righteous, qualified individuals to serve as ministers in government. Our right to vote is a gift God has given us to use to honor Him (Matthew 25:14-30).
Pastors, please consider doing the following for your congregation:
1. Use our bulletin insert as a tool to help educate your people on not only how and when to vote, but also on what the Bible says about government.
2. Make an announcement to your congregation the weekend before the election.
3. Send out a reminder via social media, phone apps, and/or emails.
Our goal at The Family Leader Foundation is not to pick sides in the partisan battle. Rather it is to help educate and equip the Church biblically on how to engage government God’s way, without compromising the gospel.
