By Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate

Iowa has a deep history of military service. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women have donned the uniform and fought for a stronger, brighter future for the American people. This includes fighting for our right to make our voices heard, participate in our democracy, and vote in U.S. elections.

It started with the American Revolution -- 40 veterans of the Revolution are buried in Iowa. From the Civil War through Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, and the War on Terrorism, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have answered the call.

Late last year, Iowans received a stark reminder of just how great this sacrifice can be, with the tragic losses of Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard in Syria. Just a few months later, Iowans mourned Major Jeffrey O’Brien, Sgt. Declan Coady, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, and three other Americans from the 103rd Sustainment Command, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, killed in a drone strike in Kuwait.

There are not enough words to say thank you to every member of our U.S. military for their sacrifices both here and abroad. But it’s imperative that we do everything we can to ensure they feel our gratitude and are taken care of here in Iowa. In moments of grief, it can feel impossible to know how to respond. For Iowans, the answer has always been the same: show up.

One small way we can say thanks is by honoring our veterans and showing up to participate in the very thing they fought to protect: our right to vote. There are nearly 160,000 veterans that currently call Iowa home. Ensuring each and every one of them has access to the information they need is a priority – and a privilege.

Two of my office’s cornerstone programs, Honor a Veteran and Veterans for Voting, aim to support veterans as they do just that. Our Veterans for Voting initiative partners with Iowa’s existing veteran organizations to provide important tools, resources, and election information to their veteran members. We are proud to partner with veteran organizations across Iowa, from VFW posts and American Legions to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and beyond.

For Iowans currently serving abroad or stationed outside the state, distance is never a barrier to casting a ballot. During my term, we have expanded voting access for military and overseas voters, who now have an expanded time to request, receive, and return their absentee ballots. Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), active duty service members and their eligible family members can register and request a ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). My office is committed to making sure every Iowa service member, no matter where in the world they are stationed, has the tools and information they need to make their voice heard.

Meanwhile, Honor a Veteran encourages Iowans to nominate a veteran in their life with a special tribute. With this tribute, both the honor-er and the honoree receive a special pin in the mail, which they are encouraged to wear every day to showcase their pride, but especially on Election Day as a visible reminder of why we vote. This program encourages every eligible Iowan to participate in Iowa elections and honor the men and women who have made sacrifices for hundreds of years to protect the very rights we exercise at the polls.

As we approach Memorial Day, may we all take some time to remember the lives of the Iowans we’ve lost over the past year, and the thousands of Iowans who stepped up before them. May we also celebrate their lives, honor their commitment, and pay it forward. I encourage you to talk to friends, family, colleagues about making a plan to vote. Help the veterans in your life make their own plan to vote, or even offer a ride to the polls on Election Day.

It’s 2026 and that means we are in the midst of another big election year. We have a statewide Primary Election on June 2, and then a General Election on November 3. My office is proud to be the trusted source for all things elections: find important deadlines and make your plan to vote at voterready.iowa.gov.

Now is the time to turn our words into action. Thank a veteran. Honor their commitment. Cast a ballot. Use your voice.