Iowa’s primary election is just four days away. Democrats have a statewide race for U.S. Senate and spirited primaries in the first and third Congressional districts. Republicans nave no statewide race to vote on, but Representatives Steve King and David Young are both facing primary challengers. Contested primaries for either the Democratic or Republican nomination are happening in dozens of Iowa House or Senate districts as well. The full candidate list is here.

The early voting period for Tuesday’s primary began five weeks ago, but lots of people who prefer to cast early ballots still haven’t voted, either out of procrastination or because they are undecided. In particular, I’ve heard many Democrats say they are struggling to choose among the three candidates running in IA-03.

If you haven’t voted yet but prefer to do so before primary election day, you still have options.

Do not request a ballot to vote by mail. Technically, June 3 is the last day to request a ballot to vote by mail, but I would strongly discourage Iowans from doing so. There’s too great a risk of not receiving the ballot in time to return it.

If you already have an absentee ballot but have not returned it, you can still put it in the mail–the sooner, the better. Many post offices no longer routinely put postmarks on envelopes, and if your ballot arrives after election day with no postmark, it will not be counted. You can take the ballot to the post office and request a postmark, or you can turn in the ballot at your county auditor’s office through election day.

If you prefer to vote early in person, county auditor’s offices will be open during regular business hours today and Monday and for at least eight hours on Saturday, June 4.

Note to Iowans who requested an absentee ballot but have decided to vote on election day instead: if you show up at your precinct polling place without your absentee ballot, you will be turned away. CORRECTION: if you show up without your absentee ballot, you will most likely be given a provisional ballot. If a poll worker calls the county auditor’s office and is told that the auditor has not received your voted absentee ballot, you may even receive a regular ballot.

You cannot hand in a voted absentee ballot at your regular polling place on election day. You may either deliver the completed ballot to the county auditor’s office on Tuesday, or surrender your unmarked absentee ballot at the polling place, then receive a regular ballot to fill out like other election-day voters.