Iowa has a long history as a presidential battleground state, but when voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, it’s the races further down the ballot that may get the most attention.

Poll watchers are allowed to do the following at the polls on Election Day, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's Office: Look at the eligibility slips or voter rosters. Write down the names of people who have or have not voted. Challenge a voter’s qualifications. Report "perceived problems" in the precinct to the county auditor.

A U.S. appeals court on Friday said it was illegal for states to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, siding with Republicans in a case challenging Mississippi's five-day grace period. The ruling by a conservative three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.