A procrastinator’s guide to Idaho’s general election: What’s on the ballot? How do I vote?

Election Day is Tuesday. You know about Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, but there’s a lot more than that on the ballot. If you’ve got some lingering questions — like where to vote or whether you can vote at all — you’re not alone.

It’s time to cram. We can help. Read on for answers to your questions.

Am I registered to vote? If not, how hard is it to register?

If you’ve never registered to vote, have recently moved or forgotten whether you’re still registered, go to voteidaho.gov. Hover over the Voting tab at the top and click on Registering to Vote. Scroll down and click on the Check Your Registration button and type in your first and last names and date of birth.

You will need to update your registration if you recently moved, changed your name or have not voted in the past four years. If you’re not registered or need to update your information, you can register at your polling place on Election Day.

You can register if:

• You’re 18 years of age or older.

• A U.S. citizen.

• A resident of Idaho for at least 30 days before Election Day.

Bring proof of residence and a photo ID card like an Idaho driver’s license; a passport; a concealed weapons license issued by an Idaho county sheriff; or an Idaho, federal or tribal ID card.

Documents that work for proof of residence include proof of insurance, a rental agreement, a utility bill or bank statement, paychecks or stubs, or enrollment letters from an Idaho high school or university.

If you’re already registered, bring an ID card like a driver’s license.

In Idaho, people with felony convictions cannot register until after finishing their sentence terms.

Where do I go to vote? When do I vote?

If you’re already registered, you may have received a voter information card in the mail recently with the precinct, legislative district and congressional district you live in. It lists your polling place.

You can also find your polling place at voteidaho.gov. Hovering over the Voting tab at top and click on Where to Vote. Scroll down and click on Find Your Polling Location, then type in your address and hit Search.

In Ada County, you can also visit adacounty.id.gov/elections/election-day-information and click on Find Where You Vote. Type in your address at the top, and it will tell you where to go.

When you arrive, you’ll check in with an election worker and will vote in a private kiosk by paper or by machine. You’re allowed to bring notes with you. If you make a mistake, ask a poll worker for a new ballot.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can still vote after polls close as long as you’re in line to vote by 8 p.m.

If you’re voting with an absentee ballot, bring it to an election drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop boxes in Ada County can be found at the Eagle, Star, Meridian, Kuna and Boise city halls and the Ada County Elections Office at 400 N. Benjamin Lane in Boise. In Canyon County, absentee ballots must be returned to the county elections office at 1102 E. Chicago St. in Caldwell.

What’s on the Idaho ballot?

You’ll see candidates for Congress, the Idaho Legislature, county offices, a proposed constitutional amendment and the much-debated Proposition 1. In many places, there are candidates for special districts such as the Ada County Highway District and the College of Western Idaho, school and other property-tax levies, and ballot measures.

You can peruse the list of every candidate and measure on the ballot in Ada and eastern Canyon Counties in our online story, “Boise-area voters: See who’s running in November 2024 election in Ada and Canyon counties.”

You can view what’s on your own ballot voteidaho.gov/on-the-ballots/. Select the bright red Find Your Sample Ballot button.

Idahoans will choose whether to send newcomers or long-term incumbents to Washington D.C. to represent Idaho’s 1st and 2nd congressional districts. Western Ada County and all of Canyon County fall within the 1st District, which stretches north to the Canadian border. Most of Boise is in the 2nd District, which runs east to the Wyoming and Montana borders.

Voters in Ada County will have options to send legislators to the Idaho House or Senate for Districts 14-22 while Canyon County voters will help choose legislators for Districts 9-13. District 23 and 10 cross into both counties and have contested races as well.

In Ada County, voters will have the opportunity to vote on two districts for the Ada County Commission (commissioners represent the districts they live in but are elected countywide), the county prosecutor, sheriff and two positions on the Ada County Highway District commission.

In Canyon County, voters will be able to vote on the contested District 3 Canyon County Commissioner seat. All other candidates on the ballot are uncontested Republicans.

On your ballot, you will also have a question about whether to add language to the state’s constitution that would bar non-American citizens from voting in Idaho elections. It is already illegal for non-American citizens to vote in Idaho and federal elections. The question was added after Republican legislators wanted more guarantees that only American citizens could vote.

You will also see a question over Proposition 1, which would change who can take part in the state’s primary elections and how the state tallies general election votes.

A “Yes” vote on Proposition 1 would open the primary elections — meaning all candidates would be lumped into one primary election and voters of any party would be able to vote on all candidates. This would change the current system where only registered Republicans can vote on Republican candidates in the primary election.

The top four candidates selected in the primary election would face off in the November general election, when voters could rank their favorite candidates from 1 to 4. (If you’d only be willing to rank one candidate, you could do that, too.) If a voter’s top candidate doesn’t have enough votes and is disqualified, their second choice would then be factored in, and if necessary their third and fourth choices until there is a clear winner.

Opponents say the system would be too complicated, may take longer to count and cost the state money to implement. Proponents say it would be more fair and bring more moderate or third-party candidates to public office.

How can I find out more about the candidates and ballot measures?

Besides the above-mentioned story listing who’s running and what’s on the ballot, you can find in-depth stories on key races and campaign contributions at Idahostatesman.com/election.

There, you’ll also find the Statesman’s Voter Guides for contested races that include candidates’ photos, bios and unedited answers to key questions.

Another way to find the Voter Guide stories fast is to go to the Idaho Statesman app or website and choose Latest. Select the story, “Voter Guide 2024: Read candidates’ answers before you head to the polls in Boise area.”

How do I find out who won?

Statesman reporters will bring you live results on Election Night starting when the polls close at 8 p.m. Check your Statesman app or go to Idahostatesman.com.

This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 12:30 PM.

Nick Rosenberger

Idaho Statesman

208-377-6437

Nick Rosenberger is the Idaho Statesman’s growth and development reporter who focuses on all things housing and business. Nick’s work has appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines across the Pacific Northwest. Support my work with a digital subscription