How to vote in Idaho
Idaho voter registration guide
Idaho voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 25 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received 25 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
Check your Idaho voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Idaho registration using the Idaho voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Idaho voter registration rules
To register in Idaho you must:
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- be a citizen of the United States
- have resided in Idaho and in the county for at least 30 days before Election Day
- not be serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony. Your voting rights are restored once you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole.
Idaho online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have an Idaho driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
- Visit the Idaho online voter registration tool.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 25 days before Election Day.
Idaho by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Idaho driver license number. If you do not have a driver license, enter the last four digits of your social security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received 25 days before Election Day
Idaho in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Idaho driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Idaho same day registration
- Summary: Idaho has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Idaho driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Registering to vote in Idaho with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Idaho absentee and mail ballot guide
Idaho absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Idaho absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 4 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Idaho absentee ballot rules
Any registered Idaho voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Idaho online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the Idaho absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is: 11 days before Election Day.
Idaho by-mail ballot request
- Download the Idaho absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 11 days before Election Day.
Idaho in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: 4 days before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. Please check with your local election office if your county has a dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Idaho absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: * Online application: You can apply online if you have an Idaho driver's license number or Idaho state ID number. * Paper application: The signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Idaho early voting guide
Idaho early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 14 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
What to bring
You must show photo ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include any ID issued by the state of Idaho or the federal government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by Idaho public high school, college, or university. If you don't have ID, you can still vote as long as you sign a personal identification affidavit.
Idaho voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show photo ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include any ID issued by the state of Idaho or the federal government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by Idaho public high school, college, or university. If you don't have ID, you can still vote as long as you sign a personal identification affidavit.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
- Online application: You can apply online if you have an Idaho driver's license number or Idaho state ID number.
- Paper application: The signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have an Idaho driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your Idaho driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Idaho elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State P.O. Box 83720 State Capitol Bldg. Boise, ID 83720‐0080
External resources
- Idaho online voter registration
- Idaho online absentee ballot request
- Idaho voter status lookup
- Idaho absentee ballot tracker
- Idaho polling place locator