ADA COUNTY, Idaho — While the majority of registered voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, some Idahoans have already checked voting off of their to-do lists.
Ada County Clerk Trent Tripple said they are on track for a record number of people to vote in a local election. Canyon County expects more of a typical turnout.
In Ada County, Tripple said about 14,000 people voted early, and another 14,000 voted via absentee ballot.
All said and done, he thinks between 100-120,000 people in Ada County will vote in this year's election.
"The highest we've ever had in this kind of municipal nonpartisan election in the off years was 83,000," Tripple said, "and that was back in 2019."
As for what is causing the increase — he said population growth makes a big difference. There are more than 50,000 new voters since that last election.
Tripple said contested local seats and certain ballot measures will also impact this year's turnout.
"We have a countywide ballot initiative for an expansion for the jail for a bond," he said. "That means every voter is going to have an opportunity to have something on their ballot this year. That's not traditionally the case."
Early voting numbers in Canyon County do not indicate they will break records. Spokesperson Joe Decker said they had just under 2,5000 early votes. More than 3,200 people voted absentee.
"If you count that percentagewise, we're just under 5% of total voter turnout," he said. "These elections have been historically between 24 and 27% voter turnout. So, you know, we're pretty good, all things considered."
Of course, Decker said they would like more than 24 to 27% of registered voters to vote. But it can be challenging to get Idahoans to the polls for local elections.
People are much more likely to vote in presidential elections even though local elections impact Idahoans' lives much more, he said.
"Unfortunately, the turnout numbers rarely reflect that, but I would encourage anybody who's thinking about voting tomorrow to definitely turn out and vote," Decker said. "Do your research, find a candidate that fits your values ... and what you want for your city or your school district."
Tuesday's election has everything from local mayoral and city council races to bonds and levies for school districts. For more information about what is on the ballot, visit KTVB's voter guide.
Polling places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. People who get in line right at 8 p.m. will still be able to vote.
People who still need to register to vote can register to vote at a polling place.
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