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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:
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.
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]
A valid proof of residence is one of:[3]
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 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]
Idaho requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[7]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 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]
Voters can obtain a free voter ID from a county DMV office. Click here for more information on obtaining a free voter ID card in Idaho.
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.
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]
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. |
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]
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
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
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State of Idaho Boise (capital) |
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