Our 2020 voter guide on Idaho’s federal primary election: Hear from the candidates

Idaho’s May 19 primary will be unlike any previous statewide election: People must vote by mail.

All Idaho voters will cast their ballots absentee — by mail — instead of gathering at polling places.

Absentee voting has long been an option for Idaho voters, but for the May 19 primary, it will be the only option.

The reason for a vote-by-mail-only primary is two-fold: concerns about coronavirus spread and a lack of polling places and poll workers.

How to vote in the May primary

First remember these two dates:

• May 19: Final day to request an absentee ballot and to register to vote, if not already registered.
• June 2: Absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Counties will begin releasing election results at 9 p.m.

Voters must request a ballot to participate in the election. Ballots are not automatically sent to voters.

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office is sending all registered voters a postage-paid absentee ballot application via mail.

Since this a primary party election, the application asks which ballot the voter wants to receive — Republican, Democratic or non-partisan.

In Idaho, Republican primaries are closed, which means only registered Republicans can receive a Republican ballot. Unaffiliated voters who choose a Republican ballot will become registered as a Republican. The non-partisan ballot will only include judicial races, levies and ballot measures.

Once the application is completed, signed and returned, a ballot will be mailed to the voter.

Anyone who is not registered vote, or who has changed addresses and did not receive the application, can register to vote, request a ballot or learn more about Idaho’s May 19 primary process at idahovotes.gov or by contacting their respective county clerk’s office.

Any voters with accessibility needs or who have accessibility concerns should contact their county clerk’s office.

Idaho’s federal races on the ballot

To help voters learn more about the candidates running for federal office, the Idaho Statesman sent surveys to each of the candidates in contested primary races, and their responses are copied below, unedited.

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Risch, Boise, is seeking re-election. He does not have any challengers seeking the Republican nomination.

Two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: Paulette Jordan, Plummer, and Jim Vandermaas, Eagle.

U.S. House District 1

Incumbent Republican Rep. Russ Fulcher, Meridian, is seeking re-election. He has one challenger in the Republican primary: Nicholas Jones, Boise.

Two Democratic candidates are seeking the nomination for this seat: Rudy Soto, Nampa, and Staniela Nikolova, Moscow.

U.S. House District 2

Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, Idaho Falls, is seeking re-election. He has one challenger in the Republican primary: Kevin Rhoades, Boise.

Learn more about other local and state elections at Idaho Statesman Elections.

This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 10:07 AM.