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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 for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
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
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Idaho, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Idaho county in which they are 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 11th day before the election. A registration application submitted by mail must be received by the 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day before the election. Voters may also register in-person at an early voting location or on Election Day.[1][3][4][5]
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
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.[6]
Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Idaho requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[7]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2025. Click here for the Idaho Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
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If a voter is unable to present accepted ID, they may sign a personal identification affidavit swearing to their identity. After signing the affidavit, they may vote a regular ballot.[7]
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Idaho permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting in Idaho varies by county, but may begin no earlier than the fourth Monday before Election Day.[9][5] 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.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
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.[10][11][12]
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][13]
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.[14]
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration 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
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation TrackerBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.
Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.
Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation ReportsBallotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.
These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Subscribe to The Ballot BulletinThe Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.
The newsletter 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.
Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2026
See also
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in Idaho
- Election administration in Idaho
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Idaho
Elections in Idaho
- Idaho elections, 2025
- 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 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Citizenship & Voting," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Idaho Secretary of State - Vote Idaho, "Registering To Vote," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes § 34-408," accessed June 26, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Idaho Legislature, "2025 Legislation - House Bill 278," accessed June 26, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-1101," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Idaho Secretary of State's Office - Vote Idaho, "Guide to Voting in Person," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes § 34-1012," accessed June 25, 2025
- ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Statutes 34-1001," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Statutes 34-1002," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Ada County Elections, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes Section 18-310," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons," accessed July 2, 2025
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