An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, a charging member, a transfer mechanism, a discharging member, a direct current voltage source, and a direct current voltage controller. The intermediate transfer member is deposited at a position facing and in contact with the image carrying member rotatably carrying a toner image on a rotating surface, and receives the toner image therefrom during a first transfer operation. The charging member applies a charge to the intermediate transfer member to cause an electric field around a region where the image carrying member and the intermediate transfer member contact with each other, where the electric field generates a force for initiating the first transfer operation. The transfer mechanism performs a second transfer operation for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet. The discharging member performs a discharging operation for discharging the charge remaining on the intermediate transfer member with contacting the intermediate transfer member after a completion of the second transfer operation. The direct current voltage source applies a direct current voltage to the discharging member to cause the discharging member to perform the discharging operation. The direct current voltage controller controls the direct current voltage in accordance with a volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer member.