Voting in Idaho
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Idaho:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information election agencies.
- Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.
See Election administration in Idaho for additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Idaho's 2024 election cycle.
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Idaho, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Idaho county in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.[1][2]
Registration in advance of election day may be completed online, in person at the county clerk's office, or by mail. The deadline to register to vote online is the 24th day before the election A registration application submitted by mail must be postmarked by the 25th day before the election. Voters may also register in-person at an early voting location or on Election Day.[1][3]
Idaho requires a photo ID and proof of residence to register to vote in person. According to the secretary of state's website, a valid photo ID is one of:[3]
- Idaho Driver’s License
- Idaho Identification Card
- Passport or Federal ID
- Tribal ID Card
- Concealed Weapons License issued by a county sheriff in Idaho
A valid proof of residence is one of:[3]
- Above photo ID with the correct address
- Proof of insurance
- Mortgage, lease, or rental agreement
- Property tax assessment, bill
- Utility bill (no cell bills)
- Bank/credit card statement
- Paystub/paycheck
- Intake document to a care facility
- Enrollment letter from an Idaho high school or university
- Letter from a social service agency
A voter registering to vote by a mail application must provide their Idaho driver's license number or their social security number. If the voter is registering for the first time they must also include a copy of a photo ID and proof of residence. Eligible documents are listed above.[1]
In-person voting
The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Idaho's 2024 election cycle.
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Idaho, all polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. In some instances, polls may open at 7:00 a.m., at the discretion of the local clerk. Idaho is split between Mountain and Pacific time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[4]
Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Idaho requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[5]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2024. Click here for the Idaho Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
“ | ” |
If a voter is unable to present accepted ID, he or she is allowed to sign a personal identification affidavit swearing to his or her identity. After signing the affidavit, he or she is issued a regular ballot.[5]
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Idaho permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting in Idaho varies by county. To find dates and times in your county, check with your county elections office here.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Idaho's 2024 election cycle.
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Idaho. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. To vote absentee, an application must be received by election officials no later than the 11th day preceding the election.[7][8]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Idaho, voting rights are automatically restored once people convicted of a felony complete their sentence, including prison, probation, and parole.[1][9]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Idaho can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Idaho County Clerks
Idaho Secretary of State, Elections Division
- Physical Address: 700 West Jefferson St, Room E205
- Boise, Idaho 83702
- Mailing address: PO Box 83720
- Boise, Idaho 83720-0080
- Phone: 208-334-2852
- Email: elections@sos.idaho.gov
- Website: https://sos.idaho.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
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- The Ballot Bulletin: November 15, 2024
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- The Ballot Bulletin: October 25, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 18, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 11, 2024
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
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- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
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- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- Voter ID in Idaho
- Election administration in Idaho
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Idaho
Elections in Idaho
- Idaho elections, 2024
- Idaho elections, 2023
- Idaho elections, 2022
- Idaho elections, 2021
- Idaho elections, 2020
- Idaho elections, 2019
- Idaho elections, 2018
- Idaho elections, 2017
- Idaho elections, 2016
- Idaho elections, 2015
- Idaho elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Idaho Secretary of State, "Idaho Voter Registration Form," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Citizenship & Voting," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Idaho Secretary of State - Vote Idaho, "Registering To Vote," accessed July 30, 2024
- ↑ Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-1101," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Idaho Secretary of State's Office - Vote Idaho, "Guide to Voting in Person," accessed July 30, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Statutes 34-1001," accessed July 30, 2024
- ↑ Ada County Elections, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 30, 2024
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes Section 18-310," accessed July 30, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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