Hawk the Vote was founded by political science and sociology student Jocelyn Roof, who graduated in 2021. Roof created Hawk the Vote alongside the University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government.

Hawk the Vote was adopted as an official program under the Office of Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement in 2019. Student and faculty leaders in the OLSCE begin to select four undergraduates to serve annually on the executive board.

Hawk the Vote facilitates its first presidential election under past Executive Director Kathryn Shumaker. In 2020, Hawk the Vote helped students navigate voter registration through a global pandemic with flagship programs.

Hawk the Vote registers as a sponsored student organization (SSO) under the supervision of the Office of Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement.