Information for Voters

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”

-President Abraham Lincoln

United States Constitution

14th Amendment, Section 1. Ratified July 9, 1868

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside…"

We the People

The will of the people is the basis of the authority for our government in the United States. In order to express their will, the citizens of our country elect leaders and vote on ballot measures in free and fair elections. In Idaho, since statehood in 1890, qualified electors have

directed the government of our state. Idaho citizens have several choices of how and when to cast their ballots. Traditionally voting takes place at a neighborhood polling place on Election Day. A qualified elector may also vote in person before Election Day during the “early voting” period. Electors may also request an Absentee ballot from their county clerk and vote by mail.

We, the People, have a common concern for the welfare of our families, our communities, our state, our country, and our fellow American citizens. Our responsibility and privilege as electors is to study the candidates and issues on the ballot and express our will at the ballot box.

Qualified Electors

To become a qualified elector a citizen must first register with their county clerk. A person must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age, a resident of Idaho and their county for 30 days prior to the election and registered as required by law with their county clerk.

Registration

A citizen may register with their county clerk up until 24 days prior to any election. You must provide an Idaho Driver’s License number, Idaho Identification Card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You may register in person with your county clerk or by mail if your registration form is postmarked 24 days before any election. Idaho also provides for Election Day registration. To register on Election Day, bring a document with a valid address in your precinct and photo identification when you go to your polling place. Students of a post-secondary education institution may use student photo identification and a fee statement with an address in the precinct from their school to register on Election Day. Re-registration with their county clerk is required if an elector changes their address. Re-registration is required if an elector changes their name by marriage or for another reason. If an elector has not voted in a Primary or General Election in the last four years re-registration is also required to be listed as a qualified elector in Idaho.

Party Affiliation

When a citizen registers to vote with their county clerk, they may choose to affiliate with a political party or remain an “unaffiliated” voter with no party affiliation. A voter who has affiliated with a party may change their affiliation by filing a signed form with the county clerk no later than the last day a candidate may file for the party Primary election. An “unaffiliated” voter may affiliate with a political party by filing a signed form with the county clerk up to and including Election Day.

Identification Required to Vote

A photo identification or signed personal identification affidavit is required to vote. Acceptable forms of personal identification are:

• An Idaho driver’s license or identification card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department

• A passport or photo identification card issued by an agency of the United States government

• A Tribal photo identification

• A Idaho student photo identification from an accredited institution of higher education including high school, college, university or technical school

• A license to carry a concealed weapon issued by a county sheriff in Idaho

Personal Identification Affidavit

A qualified elector may sign a personal identification affidavit at the polling place and vote if they are unable to present an acceptable form of photo identification.

Election Days

By legislative statute elections are held on four Tuesdays each year for the convenience of the voter.

Each year elections in Idaho are held on: the second Tuesday in March; the third Tuesday in May; the last Tuesday in August; the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

Polling places are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. but may open earlier, if the county chooses.

What Elections are on the Ballot?

Federal and State elections are held in even numbered years. In odd numbered years, city elections, school district candidate elections, and taxing district elections are held. School districts may hold additional elections in March and August for bond and levy questions. Recall, special elections and emergency elections may be held on any of the four Tuesdays if necessary.

Party Primary Elections

The presidential primary is held every four years in March in the years in which a president is to be nominated. Party primary elections to select party candidates for federal, state and county offices are held in even numbered years on the third Tuesday in May. Political party rules apply to primary elections. You may be required to register as a member of a specific political party in order to vote in that party’s primary election. You may only vote in the primary election of one party. There are four recognized political parties in Idaho: the Constitution Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party and the Republican Party.

General Elections

General Elections are held in even numbered years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November and are open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation. Successful party candidates from the Primary Election appear on the ballot along with statewide constitutional amendments, initiatives, referendums and some taxing district elections

Absentee Voting by Mail

Qualified electors in Idaho can vote by absentee ballot and return their ballot by mail or personal delivery. You may request a ballot in writing from your county clerk, by submitting your name, residence address in Idaho, and the mailing address where you want your ballot mailed. You must personally sign your application. Mail or deliver your application to your county clerk no later than 11 days before the election. You will receive an absentee ballot in the mail. Your ballot must be returned to the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voting Before Election Day

Qualified electors may vote in person before Election Day at an early voting site. Kootenai County voters are able to do so at the Elections Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene.

Early voting ends in all counties at 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day.

Accessible Voting Options

Ballots and polling places in Idaho are accessible to all voters. If you or someone you know has difficulty seeing or marking a ballot there are several ways to vote. Voters can be assisted at the polls by a person of their choice or by a poll worker. A ballot marking machine with an audio ballot and enlarged print is also available during early voting and at all polling places for State and Federal elections. You may vote from home with a mail-in absentee ballot. Contact your county clerk before Election Day if you would like assistance to vote or have questions about accessible voting options in Idaho.

Make Sure Your Vote Counts

Mark your ballot properly. Follow ballot marking instructions carefully to make sure your vote counts. The type of ballot your county chooses may change based on the size and type of election or combination of elections. Counties can use paper or optical scan ballots. Paper ballots are marked with an “x” in a box, optical scan ballots are marked by filling in an oval or a square. Read all instructions carefully to make sure your vote counts. An example of proper marking for each type of ballot is in this pamphlet. Marking instructions are printed on all ballots. Marking instructions are also posted in all polling places.

Participation is the Essence of Democracy

Once you have registered with your county clerk and become a qualified elector, check your polling place on voteidaho.gov. Bring your photo identification to the polls to vote. If you know you will not be able to go to your polling place on Election Day remember you can vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot or vote in person at your county’s early voting site. Call your county clerk if you have any questions. Study the candidates and research the issues that you will be voting on. It may be helpful to write out a “voting list” to save time at the polls. Talk to your family and friends about voting. Write letters to your newspaper, make phone calls, send emails and use social media. Elections belong to the people who participate.