City elections are held in November of odd years. Beginning in 2019, school elections were combined with city elections.
Iowa City set a city election turnout record in 2007 with 15,728 voters.
North Liberty, Shueyville, and Swisher set new records in 2023.
Record Turnout by City, 1977-present
Including stand-alone special elections;
does not include special elections combined with general elections
| City | Record Turnout | Year | Key Contests |
| Iowa City | 15,728 | 2007 | Council, 21 Bar and Police Issues |
| Coralville | 2,824 | 2013 | Mayor and Council |
| Hills | 295 | 2007 | Water Utility |
| Lone Tree | 326 | 2005 | Mayor and Council |
| North Liberty | 2,054 | 2023 | Council |
| Oxford | 267 | 1993 | Mayor and Council |
| Shueyville | 178 | 2023 | Council |
| Solon | 793 | 2021 | Council, Public Measure (sales tax use) |
| Swisher (regular) | 265 | 2023 | Mayor and Council |
| Swisher (special) | 476 | 3/7/2023 | Water Utility |
| Tiffin | 324 | 2011 | Mayor and Council |
| University Heights | 561 | 2013 | Council |
Highest Vote Totals for Candidates
In 2007, Iowa City District A incumbent Ross Wilburn won 10,449 votes in his uncontested race to set a new record. At-Large candidate Matt Hayek won 9,485 votes, the record for a contested race.
Highest Vote Totals by City, 1977-present
| City | Candidate |
Votes |
Office | Year | Contested |
| Iowa City | Ross Wilburn |
10,449 |
Council |
2007 |
No |
| Coralville | Meghann Foster |
1,931 |
Mayor |
2023 |
No |
| Hills | Cathy Knebel |
214 |
Council |
2007 |
No |
| Lone Tree | Eldon Slaughter |
283 |
Mayor | 2005 | No |
| North Liberty | Brent Smith | 1548 | Council |
2023 |
Yes |
| Oxford | James Hennes |
205 |
Council | 1981 | Yes |
| Shueyville | Chris Lacy | 130 | Council | 2023 | No |
| Solon | Steve Duncan |
558 |
Council |
2021 |
No |
| Swisher | Daryl Hynek | 188 | Council | 2023 | Yes |
| Tiffin | Steve Berner |
299 |
Mayor |
2021 |
No |
| University Heights | Louise From |
358 |
Mayor |
2013 |
No |
Four Johnson County cities have seen tied elections since 1977, most recently in Hills in 1995. In the event of a tie, under Iowa law the winner is drawn by lot at the official canvass of votes.
The closest Iowa City election was the 1999 race for Iowa City Council member at large which was decided by two votes.
In a 1983 runoff election for one city council seat in North Liberty, four candidates were within one vote of each other. Randy Ferdig had 38 votes and three other candidates (two of them write-ins) had 37 votes each.
Closest Elections by City 1977-present
| City | Winning Candidate | Defeated | Margin | Office | Year |
| Iowa City | Steven Kanner | Charles Major | 2 | Council | 1999 |
| Coralville | John Weihe | Jean Schnake | 12 | Council |
2007 |
| Coralville (special) | Sales Tax - No | Sales Tax - Yes | 8 | Ballot Issue |
5/5/2009 |
| Hills | Cathy Fitzmaurice | Russell Bailey | tie | Mayor | 1995 |
| Lone Tree | Jeff Lihs | David Smith | 1 | Council | 1997 |
| North Liberty | Stephen Purkapile | Keith Roof |
3 |
Council |
1993 |
| North Liberty Runoff | Randy Ferdig | three others |
1 |
Council |
1983 |
| Oxford | Darrel Lindley | John Kahler | 5 | Council | 1977 |
| Shueyville | Lori Chalupsky (W-I) | Jerry Cada (W-I) | 1 | Council | 1985 |
| Chris Lacy | Brenda Truka | 1 | Council |
2011 |
|
| Solon | James Croy | Ray Randall | tie | Council | 1989 |
| Swisher | William Fisher (W-I) | 2 others (W-I) | 1 | Council | 1985 |
| Linda Gear (W-I) | Douglas Long (W-I) | 1 | Council | 1983 | |
| Tiffin | Pamela Brown | Carrie Stratton | tie | Council | 1989 |
| University Heights | Emery Rhodes | Mary Hanson | tie | Council | 1977 |
Doug Votrubek was elected to the Shueyville city council as a write-in in 2023. There were also write-in winners in Lone Tree and Swisher, but they declined the offices. In all cases, fewer candidates ran than the number of offices available.
The last time a write in candidate defeated someone listed on the ballot was in 2015 in University Heights.