Treasure Valley voters: Want to vote in Tuesday’s elections? Here’s what you need to know
Boiseans will head to the polls on Election Day next Tuesday, Nov. 2, with the possibility of voting for one of three City Council seats or a water utility bond.
Voters are eligible to vote if they are 18 years old, U.S. citizens and have lived in their counties of residence for at least 30 days before Election Day. People with felony convictions cannot register to vote until they’ve completed the terms of their sentence.
How do I register to vote?
With Election Day just days away, it’s too late to preregister to vote online. Nevertheless, you still can register in person at your polling place on Election Day. You can register during early voting, which ends Friday, Oct. 29, at your early voting location (see “What about voting by mail? Early voting?” below).
To register in person, you’ll need:
1. A photo identification (state issued ID, tribal card, U.S. passport or current student ID)
2. A state ID number or the last four digits of your social security number
3. Proof of residency (utility bill, lease, bank statement, etc.)
Registration is required when you move to a new state or change addresses. You can check the Secretary of State’s website to see if you’re registered at your current address.
What if I’m already registered?
You will need to bring an ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, tribal card, U.S. passport or student ID.
You can ask for help from a poll worker or bring someone if you need help filling out your ballot.
Who/what do I get to vote on?
Boise: 2021 marks Boise’s first election using electoral districts, which are divided geographically for City Council seats. This year Districts 1, 3 and 5 will be up for election for abbreviated two-year terms. All six districts will be up for reelection in 2023.
District 1 includes West Boise and Centennial. District 3 encompasses parts of the North End, Collister, Veterans Park, Northwest Boise and other nearby neighborhoods. District 5 includes downtown Boise, the East End, the Bench, the West End and parts of Southeast Boise.
Don’t which district you’re in? The city of Boise offers a tool at www.cityofboise.org/departments/city-council/city-council-election-districts, where residents can type their address to find which district they live in.
Boiseans will also get to vote on a $570 million water utility bond, except those living in the West Boise Sewer District, which is separate from the city’s sewage services.
Meridian: Three city council races, and recreation, cemetery and fire district commissioners.
Nampa: Mayor, three city council seats, and school board, recreation and fire commissioners.
Caldwell: Mayor, three city council seats, two school board seats, and a fire district commissioner.
Eagle: Two city council seats, and fire district commissioners.
Kuna: Three city council races, two school board races, and for cemetery and fire district commissioners.
Star: Two city council races, and fire and cemetery district commissioners.
Middleton: Two city council seats and two school board seats.
West Ada Schools: The school board has two open positions in Zones 1 and 3.
Vallivue Schools: One school board seat.
Ada County voters can see who’s on their ballot at adacounty.id.gov/elections/view-my-ballot/. Type in your address in the prompt and a sample ballot will appear.
Canyon County voters can see who’s on their ballot at canyonco.org/elected-officials/clerk/elections/. Click “Sample ballot.”
What about voting by mail? Early voting?
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail, or absentee, ballot was Oct. 22. Mailed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, so they should be sent as soon as possible.
You can also deliver your absentee ballot to one of six drop-off boxes in Ada County through 8 p.m. Election Day. The boxes are located at Boise City Hall, Meridian City Hall, Star City Hall, Eagle City Hall, Ada County Elections and Kuna City Hall.
Canyon County voters can return their ballots to the county elections office on 1102 E Chicago St. in Caldwell.
Early voting is available until Friday, Oct. 29, in Ada County at Boise City Hall, Meridian City Hall and the Ada County Elections office at 400 N. Benjamin Lane in Boise. In Canyon County, early voting can be done at the Caldwell Train Depot at 701 Main St. in Caldwell.
Where do I vote?
Your voter registration will say where your polling place is located.
If you have a disability that makes it hard to stand in line or access your polling place, you can ask a poll work to vote curbside. If you do that, a poll worker will bring you your ballot outside the polling place or to your car. There are also special terminals at each polling place for those who have a hard time seeing or marking ballots.
I want to know more about the candidates/issues
The best place to start is “Want to vote? Intelligently? Start here. Our Voter Guide for city, school elections.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
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