Voting in Idaho

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Presidential Primary Election

05/23/2024
Election Date (D) 
03/02/2024
Election Date (R) 
04/28/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (by mail (D) )
12/31/2023
Voter Registration Deadline (by mail (R) , in-person, online)

The upcoming election is a presidential primary. Learn About Presidential Primaries

Polling place hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Register to Vote
Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Board of Elections Phone Number: (208) 334-2852

Idaho Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Idaho

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Idaho Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Idaho’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 208-334-2300.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Idaho’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Idaho’s elections office here and contact them by phone at (208)-334-2300.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Idaho.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

How Vote By Mail Works in Idaho

Voting by mail is a two step process in Idaho.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. The deadline for your application to be received is October 27th at 5 p.m.

Return your ballot ASAP.

  • Return in person to your county clerk's office on or before Election Day, November 7th, 2023.
  • Return by mail to your local elections office so that it is received by Election Day. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after November 7th - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After you complete your ballot, be sure to sign the affidavit on the back of your ballot envelope.

Be sure that your signature matches your signature on file with the state! If you registered online or at the DMV, check the signature on your license. If the signature does not match, your ballot could be tossed and will not count.

 

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, your postage is prepaid. You can also return your ballot via commercial delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS (at your expense).

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office, or drop box.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

This is to be determined. The issue is being discussed in the current legislative session.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you would like to vote in person, return your unused absentee ballot to your polling site so that your ballot may be "spoiled" and request an in person ballot on Election Day. If you do not have your ballot to return, you may have to vote a provisional ballot.

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Idaho does not offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot. Your ballot will not count if it is late, or you do not follow directions.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

If you lack any of the following forms of ID, you may sign an affidavit in lieu of presenting ID. Valid forms of identification include;

  • Idaho driver’s license or Idaho identification card
  • US passport or federal ID card, including photograph
  • Tribal identification card, including photograph
  • A current student photo identification card, issued by a high school or post secondary education institution located within Idaho
  • License to carry a concealed weapon

 

Voter ID in Idaho

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Presidential Primaries

Primary Type (D): Closed
Primary Type (R): Closed

Only registered voters affiliated with the Republican Party may vote in its caucus. The deadline to register as a Republican voter in order to participate in the caucus was December 31st, 2023. All voters, regardless of affiliation, may vote in Democratic caucus. You may register to vote and declare your party affiliation in person at your Democratic caucus location.

Please see Idaho’s Democratic Party and Republican Party websites for more details.

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

Dates and hours vary by county. Contact your Local Election Office for more information.

You can vote in-person absentee in Idaho

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Idaho, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can not vote in the Idaho primaries if you are 17 by the next election.