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Election Day in Idaho: what to know as you head to the polls

Every voter has responsibilities and every voter has rights under the law.

KTVB Staff

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Published: 11:53 AM MDT October 12, 2022
Updated: 10:04 AM MST November 8, 2022

After months of campaign ads, speeches and debates, the Idaho General Election is here. All of Idaho’s statewide constitutional officers, both members of the U.S. House delegation, one U.S. Senator and the entire Idaho Legislature are up for election, or possible re-election.

Also on the ballot around Idaho are most county offices and two statewide ballot questions: one is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the Idaho Legislature to call itself into a special session; the other is a non-binding advisory vote, asking if you approve of the legislation passed in the recent special session that took place in August, establishing a flat income tax, providing for another round of income tax rebates, and a funding boost for public schools and in-demand career education. Those two questions will appear at the end of your ballot; they're also detailed in the Idaho Voter’s Pamphlet.

The deadline to pre-register online has come and gone, but you may register at your polling place. If you have not voted since before the May 17 primary, there’s a good chance your polling place has changed. Make sure to double check your information and registration status on the Idaho Secretary of State’s official voting information website.

Be sure to bring identification and, if you need to register today, proof of at least 30 days residence, such as a utility bill, a copy of your lease agreement or deed, or a current student fee statement from a postsecondary educational institution in Idaho that contains the student's valid address in the precinct. 

  • Idaho driver's license or Idaho photo identification card
  • U.S. passport or other federal photo identification card
  • Tribal photo identification card
  • Current student photo ID issued by an Idaho high school or post-secondary institution (college, university, technical school)
  • A license to carry a concealed weapon, issued by a county sheriff in Idaho
  • If you are not able to show acceptable photo ID, a registered voter may sign a Personal Identification Affidavit instead. On that affidavit, the voter swears to their identity under penalty of perjury. This is a provision of Idaho law.

If you received an absentee ballot and have not yet returned it to your county's elections office (county clerk), you will need to drop it off in person. All absentee ballots are due at county elections offices by 8 p.m.

A rundown of what’s on the ballot for federal and state offices is coming up below -- you can also click on one of the chapters at the top of this story. County and local races and ballot measures are listed here.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. After the polls close in northern Idaho, at 9 p.m. MT, we'll bring you results here on KTVB.COM and on KTVB-TV channel 7.1 as they come in.

Idaho ballots are either optical scan (fill in the bubbles) or hand-counted (voters in some counties simply make an "X" in the box of their choice) -- all have a paper record. The ballots will be taken from the precincts to county offices. As has happened in past elections, 100% of the precincts likely won't be in when you go to bed Tuesday night.

Under Idaho law, every registered voter in Idaho has the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation from anyone, including elections officials. You also have the right to ask for and receive instructions on voting equipment and assistance in voting; to cast a ballot using voting equipment that accurately counts all votes; and to cast a ballot if you're in line when the polls are closing.

If you have any problems, or believe you've been denied the right to vote, call your county clerk's office immediately. If you believe your civil rights have been violated, report it to the U.S. Department of Justice. If you're the target of violence, threats of violence, or physical intimidation, call 911.

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