Idaho voting issues

Election and registration information

 * IdahoVotes election information


 * Locate your polling place

Voting eligibility
You are eligible to vote if you:


 * will be at least 18 years old on election day;
 * are a citizen of the United States, and;
 * have resided in Idaho and in the county for 30 days.

You are not eligible to vote if you:


 * have been convicted of a felony and have not had your civil rights restored, or;
 * are confined in prison on conviction of a criminal offense.

If you meet the other qualifications to register to vote, but have been convicted of a felony (in Idaho, or any other jurisdiction), your civil rights for voting purposes are automatically restored upon completion of your sentence, including any probation or parole.

Voter ID requirements
You may register at the polls on election day by providing proof of residence. All documents used in providing proof of residence shall be accompanied with a photo I.D. Only the following documents showing the registrant's current address in the precinct are authorized:


 * a valid Idaho driver's license issued through the department of transportation
 * a valid Idaho identification card issued through the department of transportation
 * any document which contains a valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card
 * Students may also use a current valid student identification card from a post secondary educational institution in Idaho accompanied with a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card.

2008 election
For the 2008 election Idaho used the following voting machines in addition to hand-counted paper ballots in some counties. For a county-by-county list of the specific machines (and the source for this section) see Verified Voting's Verifier tool.

Optical scan machines:


 * Election Systems & Software' Model 650
 * ES&S Model 150
 * Sequoia Optech III-P Eagle

Assistive Devices for Marking Paper Ballots:
 * Election Systems & Software's AutoMARK Technical Systems AutoMARK VAT
 * ES&S Votomatic

Governmental election authorities
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa

Elections Division website: http://www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/eleindex.htm

Contact information:
 * Elections Phone: (208) 334-2852
 * Elections Fax: (208) 334-2282


 * Email: [mailto:elections@sos.idaho.gov elections@sos.idaho.gov]


 * Find your County Clerk

Election threats

 * November 4, 2008. Obama supporters report receiving text messages advising they should vote Wednesday to avoid lines. In response Idaho’s Secretary of State issued an advisory that Election Day is Tuesday only.


 * For an extensive log of voting machine problems, see the VotersUnite! report on election incidents.

State and local non-governmental election organizations
League of Women Voters

LWV of Idaho, Ms. Maxine Miller, President; Ms. Virginia Foote, Co-President
 * 321 Skyline Drive
 * Lewiston, ID 83501
 * Phone: 208-743-8930
 * E-mail: miller32@cableone.net
 * http://www.lwv-id.org

Local Leagues:
 * Bingham County
 * Boise
 * Idaho Falls MAL
 * Kootenai County
 * Lewis-Clark Valley
 * Moscow
 * Pocatello
 * Twin Falls MAL