Voting in Idaho
General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
At a glance
You can register and vote on the same day, including Election Day.
Without photo ID, sign an affidavit of identity (since 2026 SB 1322 it must include date of birth or license/ID number) and vote a regular ballot. No ID? Ask your election office whether it offers a free one for voting. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to show ID under federal law.
Return deadline: received by 8 p.m. Nov 3 (Election Day).
In-person absentee only: at clerk's office from about Sept 18 when ballots are available; NCSL lists on or after 4th Monday before (Oct 12) through 5 p.m. Oct 30
Rights restored automatically after completing the sentence including parole/probation; 2026 HB 698 bars people convicted of treason elsewhere from voting even after discharge.
Deadlines
| Step | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Register online | Friday, October 23 | |
| Register by mail | Friday, October 23 | |
| Register in person | Tuesday, November 3 | Same-day registration |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3 | Polls close times vary; check your state. |
Mail ballot request: received by 5 p.m. Oct 23 (11th day before). Mail ballot return: received by 8 p.m. Nov 3 (Election Day).
Where the road gets harder
Every rule is a cost, and it doesn't fall on everyone the same. A deadline, a document or a trip to an office is easy for some people and a real obstacle for others: people who work hourly jobs, move often, live far from an office, don't drive, or have a disability. Here is what that looks like in Idaho.
- Registration isn't automatic. Each person has to sign up on their own, which leaves out people who don't know the rules or move often.
- Mail ballots have to arrive by Election Day; a postmark isn't enough. A ballot mailed in the last days can arrive too late and won't count, so return it in person if it's close.
- After a felony conviction: Rights restored automatically after completing the sentence including parole/probation; 2026 HB 698 bars people convicted of treason elsewhere from voting even after discharge.
- The Sentencing Project estimated in 2024 that 29,143 people in Idaho (2.17% of the voting-eligible population, and 9.06% of Black voting-eligible residents) could not vote because of a felony conviction.Source: The Sentencing Project, Locked Out 2024
News from Idaho
Recent election, voting and policy headlines that mention Idaho, newest first. They are found automatically and not checked: a headline shows what someone published, not that it is true.
News appears here once the news feed is connected.
Official links
Idaho Secretary of State. These go straight to the government, not to us.
Sources
Checked October 12, 2026. Laws and court rulings change, sometimes close to an election. If anything here disagrees with your state or county election office, they are right and we are wrong; please tell us.
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-registration-deadlines
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/online-voter-registration
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/automatic-voter-registration
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/same-day-voter-registration
- https://www.usvotefoundation.org/idaho-election-dates-and-deadlines
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-mail-ballots
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/early-in-person-voting
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-1-states-with-no-excuse-absentee-voting
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id
- https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights
- https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2024-four-million-denied-voting-rights-due-to-a-felony-conviction/