Here's what you can do if you haven't mailed your mail-in ballot yet: • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Iowa voters were asked to send in their mail-in ballots by Thursday to ensure they were received by local auditors by Election Day, officials said.

But if you didn't put your ballot in the mail, don't throw it away. You still have many opportunities to vote.

While the recommendation is intended to ensure that mail-in ballots reach their destination without issue, there is no state deadline for mailing ballots. Mail-in ballots must be returned to the voter's local auditor's office by the polls close on Election Day – this year by November 5 at 8 p.m. – to be valid.

In a statement at the start of early voting, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Iowans should return mail-in ballots as quickly as possible.

“Once you receive your mail-in ballot, it is important to complete it and return it quickly,” Pate said in the statement. “We recommend allowing around five days for postal delivery to be on the safe side and to avoid any postal delays.”

Voters who mailed in their absentee ballots have the option to track whether they were received via the Iowa Secretary of State's website.

How can I return my ballot if it is too late for the mail?

If voters are unable to mail their ballots on Thursday, alternatives are available to ensure their votes are counted. Absentee ballots may also be returned in person to the county auditor's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Iowa has some rules that limit who can return mail-in ballots for a voter. A voter may designate someone to return a mail-in ballot in his or her place if that voter is an immediate family member or household member; Voters with disabilities can also designate someone outside of their family or household to return their ballot if necessary. Rules about how to designate another person to return a mail-in ballot are included in official instructions sent to voters with mail-in ballots, according to the Secretary of State's website.

Can I vote in person instead?

Iowa residents who have requested an absentee ballot also have the option to vote in person on Election Day. In these cases, voters can cast a regular vote if they bring the mail-in ballot to their polling station and drop it off there. People who have requested a mail-in ballot but are unable to return it will have the option to vote with a provisional ballot on Election Day.

A voter who has filled out their mail-in ballot and wants to return it on Election Day must drop off the ballot at their county auditor's office — it cannot be dropped off at a voter's polling place on Election Day, the Secretary of State's website says.

The deadline to request mail-in ballots has passed — under Iowa law, Oct. 21 was the last day to submit a request to have mail-in ballots sent to you in the mail. Iowa residents who have missed this deadline still have the opportunity to vote early by going to their county auditor's office and other designated early voting locations listed on local officials' websites. Additionally, voters in Iowa will have the opportunity to vote on Election Day.

What happens if I'm not registered to vote?

Iowa allows same-day voter registration. Voters must show identification through identification such as a driver's license, ID card or U.S. passport, as well as proof of residency through documents such as a rental agreement, utility bill or paycheck showing their current address, to register to vote.

Do I have to show ID to vote?

Iowans who are already registered will also be required to provide identification to vote. Individuals who do not provide valid identification may still vote if their identity is verified by another registered voter in the county. People without a valid ID or notarist can vote with a provisional ballot and provide proof of identification until the Monday after Election Day to have their vote counted.