OPINION: Absentee voting: Idaho’s quiet success story

Absentee voting has quietly served Idaho for decades. It gives seniors, rural residents, working families, and military members a trusted way to cast their ballots. For many, it’s not just convenient but essential. And for our active-duty service members in the US and abroad, absentee voting isn’t simply a matter of convenience it is the only way their voices can be heard.

A soldier serving away from home should never lose the right to vote for the leaders who shape the policies that affect their service. All veterans should always have a voice in the very democracy they helped defend. Absentee voting ensures that the men and women who have given so much for our country continue to have a say in its future.

Absentee voting isn’t Mail-In Voting. One common misunderstanding is confusing absentee voting with universal mail-in voting. They are not the same.

• In Idaho, absentee ballots are available only to registered voters who request them in advance. Each request is verified, and ballots must be returned by strict deadlines.

• Universal mail-in voting, on the other hand, automatically sends ballots to every registered voter, whether they asked for one or not.

Idaho does not use universal mail-in voting. Our absentee system is controlled, request-based, and full of checks that protect security and accountability.

Idaho has recently strengthened absentee voting even more:

• Online ballot requests require either a state-issued ID or the last four digits of a Social Security number; but you must have first registered with your Idaho driver’s license or state-issued ID card number to request an absentee ballot.

• Requests must be made annually.

• Returned ballots must have signatures that match voter records, and county clerks carefully verify them. County Election offices must have annual training on signature verification.

These steps are straightforward, transparent, and build public confidence. They also ensure that when a ballot is sent to a Marine in the Pacific, an airman in Europe, or a soldier stationed in the Middle East, that vote is every bit as secure as one cast in person at the polls.

Much of the handwringing about absentee ballots simply isn’t based on fact. Idaho election officials, Republican and Democrat alike, have testified that fraud is extremely rare. Paper ballots, signature verification, and post-election audits already safeguard the process. And in Idaho, when fraud does occur, it is prosecuted. The evidence shows absentee voting is secure and reliable.

Idaho has also put an end to ballot harvesting. Only the voter, or a close contact like a family member or caregiver, can return a ballot. No one can legally drop off a stack of ballots at the elections office. That safeguard further protects the chain of custody.

These reforms haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2024, Idaho improved its standing on The Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard, joining states recognized for significantly strengthening election security. The Honest Elections Project also praised reforms like requiring voter ID for every ballot and securing early and absentee voting, which Idaho has already put into practice.

The impact goes beyond rankings. In places like Kootenai County, absentee voting helps ease poll-day congestion, reduces pressure on poll workers, and keeps lines shorter. That makes Election Day smoother and more efficient for everyone. But above all, absentee ballots protect the voices of Idaho’s veterans and active-duty military, a group that above any other has earned right and expectation, that their vote will count.

At its heart, absentee voting is about access. It gives every eligible Idahoan a secure way to vote, no matter their circumstances. When politicians add hurdles just to look tough on elections, they aren’t protecting democracy they’re getting in the way of legitimate voters.

Idaho should continue building on this quiet success story by keeping access strong while making smart, thoughtful improvements.

Absentee voting in Idaho is secure, tested, and improving. More importantly, it keeps faith with every Idahoan, including those who have worn the uniform and stood watch so we can remain free to cast our ballots at home.

For more information on Idaho’s elections and to request an absentee ballot, visit VoteIdaho.gov. Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 PM on October 24th.

• • •

Becky Funk is a member of North Idaho Republicans, President of North Idaho Federated Republican Women, and past Legislative District 4 Republican Chair.