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Special elections to fill vacancies may be held on any Tuesday except for the four Tuesdays before and after the primary and general elections and provided sufficient notice is given to the county auditor.

46 days' notice to the county auditor is required for most special elections. See the authorizing Iowa Code section to determine how much notice is required - § 47.6(3)(a-c)

Unless the authorizing Iowa Code section specifies the dates on which a public measure election may be held, Iowa Code § 39.2 sets the following dates as public measure dates for all counties, cities, schools and merged areas:

  • the first Tuesday in March
  • the second Tuesday in September
  • the day of the regular city/school election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an odd-numbered year

Counties may also place public measures on the General Election ballot in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.