Stormy weather could sweep across Iowa and several other battleground states on Election Day next Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to forecasters, raising concerns that rain and gusty winds could hold down voter turnout in some of the country's most competitive races.
The forecast puts Iowa squarely in the middle of a weather system expected to stretch from the Plains to the Great Lakes, with the Hawkeye State listed among the states most likely to see rain when voters head to the polls.
What the forecast shows for Iowa
According to The Hill, AccuWeather is predicting rain across portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota on Election Day, with the wet weather in the Midwest and Plains potentially accompanied by gusty winds.
CNN reported that parts of Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Texas and Ohio could all see wet weather on Tuesday, according to The Hill's reporting.
NBC News, citing the same forecasts, reported that stormy weather is expected to hammer the central U.S. on Election Day, with the most severe conditions forecast for states hosting some of the tightest races in the country, including Texas, Kansas and Iowa.
Why Election Day weather matters
Rain on Election Day is more than an inconvenience. Political researchers have long found that bad weather can reduce turnout, especially among voters who face longer trips to polling places or who decide at the last minute whether to vote at all.
For Iowa voters, the practical message is simple: plan ahead. Voting early, if still available in your county, or heading to the polls earlier in the day could help Iowans avoid the worst of the weather.
Iowans who want to confirm their polling place, hours, or early voting options can check with the Iowa Secretary of State's office or their county auditor before Tuesday.
Storms could also shape races in Texas and Kansas
The weather forecast lands in the middle of a midterm election season featuring several races that could decide control of the U.S. Senate.
In Kansas, incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall (R) faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in a race that two major election handicappers, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Cook Political Report, recently shifted to a