Here’s How To Handle Your Idaho Voter Registration

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you live in the Gem State and want to make your voice heard, completing your Idaho voter registration is easier than you might think. Whether you prefer to handle things online, by mail, or in person, Idaho gives you multiple ways to get registered and get to the polls. Here’s everything you need to know.

Who Can Register To Vote In Idaho?

Before you start the registration process, make sure you meet the basic eligibility requirements. To register to vote in Idaho, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the Idaho county in which you are registering for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.

You also must not be currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony. Once you complete your sentence, probation, and parole, your voting rights are restored. 

3 Ways To Complete Your Idaho Voter Registration

Idaho makes it convenient to register through three different methods. Choose whichever works best for you.

Register Online

The fastest way to handle your Idaho voter registration is through the state’s official portal at VoteIdaho.gov. You will need a current driver’s license or a free identification card to use the online registration portal. The process takes just a few minutes, and you can also use the portal to check your existing registration status or update your information if you’ve moved or changed your name.

Register by Mail

You can use Idaho’s mail-in registration form to register for local, state, and national elections for the first time, or to update your registration with a new name or address. You’ll need to print the form, fill it out, and mail it to your state election office. Make sure to use a street address since P.O. Boxes are not allowed. 

Register In Person

You can walk into your county clerk’s office during business hours to register in person. To register to vote in person, you will need a current photo ID and proof of residence.  Accepted forms of photo ID include a current Idaho state-issued ID, a current tribal card, a current U.S. passport, or a current Idaho Concealed Weapons license.

What Are the Idaho Voter Registration Deadlines?

Idaho offers one of the most flexible registration windows in the country including same-day registration.

You can register online, by mail, or in person up to 25 days before Election Day. If you miss that deadline, you can still register during early voting or on Election Day itself. 

If you miss the advance registration deadline, simply go to your regular polling place or early voting site to register and vote. You will need to show proof of residence and a photo ID. 

Do You Need To Re-Register?

You will need to update your registration when you change your name or address. The process to update your registration is the same as registering for the first time. You can do it online or by printing, completing, and mailing the Voter Registration Form to your county clerk’s office. 

Your registration is permanent as long as you vote at least once every four years in a primary or general election and do not move. You need to re-register if you change your address or name. 

Choosing a Political Party

When you complete your Idaho voter registration, you have the option to affiliate with a political party or remain unaffiliated. You can join a political party or remain unaffiliated. Unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party on or before the primary Election Day by declaring their party preference when checking in with a poll worker or submitting a party affiliation form to the county clerk. 

What To Bring When You Vote

Once you’re registered, keep in mind that registered voters must present a valid photo ID at the polls to vote. If a voter cannot show an acceptable ID, they have the option to sign a Personal Identification Affidavit. 

Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your Idaho voter registration. Head to VoteIdaho.gov to register online, download a mail-in form, or find your county clerk’s office. Every vote matters — and the first step is making sure yours counts.