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Elections

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1. Who can vote in Blaine County?

To be eligible to vote in Idaho you must meet the following requirements and register with your County Clerk.

Idaho statute § 34-104

“QUALIFIED ELECTOR” DEFINED. “Qualified elector” means any person who is eighteen (18) years of age, is a United States citizen and who has resided in this state and in the county at least thirty (30) days next preceding the election at which he desires to vote, and who is registered as required by law.

If you are qualified, fill out a voter registration form, sign and return it to your County Clerk.

Idaho has election day registration. You may register at your polling place on election day by providing proof of residence. All documents used in providing proof of residence must be accompanied with a photo ID. Only the following documents showing the registrant’s current address in the precinct are authorized:

•    a valid Idaho driver license issued through the department of transportation

•    a valid Idaho identification card issued through the department of transportation

•    any document which contains a valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card

•    Students may also use a current valid student identification card from a post secondary educational institution in Idaho accompanied with a current student fee statement that contains the student’s valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card.

2. How do I register to vote?

You can register to vote with Vote Idaho or you can register to vote in person at the Blaine County Election Office.

3. May I register to vote at my business address or may I use my P.O. Box number?

No. A person may only register to vote at his or her place of residence. A business address or a P.O. Box number may only be used as a mailing address.

4. When must I register to vote?

You can register to vote at any time. However, if you are registering to vote within 24 days prior to any election you will need to provide proof of residence as well as identification and vote at that time.

You must re-register to vote every time you move or change your name. For specific dates and deadlines for the upcoming election, see the Idaho Secretary of State’s calendar.

5. When I register to vote, do I need to provide identification?

If it is within 24 days prior to any election: yes. When you register to vote, you must provide a photo ID as well as proof of residency. This may be on your Idaho Driver’s License, but if not you can use other documents like a Costco card and a power bill that shows your name at your physical address.

If it is not within 24 days prior to any election: no, you do not need any identification or proof of address.

6. When I register to vote, do I need to join a political party?

No. When you register to vote, you will be asked if you want to affiliate with a political party. There are currently four qualified political parties in Idaho: the Constitution Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Republican Party. If you do not want to affiliate with a political party, choose Unaffiliated when registering to vote.

7. How do I find out if I am registered to vote?

To find out if you are registered to vote visit voteidaho.gov or call the Elections Office at 208-788-5510.

8. May I sign a petition if I am not registered to vote?

You must be a registered voter for your signature to be valid on a petition. If you complete and sign an Idaho Voter Registration Form on the same date or a date prior to signing the petition, your signature will be valid. The election official must receive the completed/signed voter registration form on or before the date the petition is filed with the election office.

9. Can my name be removed from candidate and campaign mailing lists?

No. The Elections Office cannot stop the political mailings or calls you receive. We cannot remove your address from your voter registration record. Voter registration records are public record, Idaho law allows certain voter information to be released to the public. Your social security number, driver’s license number, birth date, and signature are never provided.

10. How do I return my absentee ballot?

Return your absentee ballot in the return envelope that has your name printed on it. Be sure to sign the envelope.

• Before election day, mail your ballot, in the signed return envelope, to the Blaine County Election Office. Ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• Before or on election day, take your ballot, in the signed return envelope, to the Blaine County Election Office or use the drop box located on the east side of the Courthouse.
  
  

Note: absentee ballots cannot be dropped off at polling places. All ballots must be received by the Blaine County Elections office by 8 pm on Election Day. 

11. How do I know my absentee ballot was received?

You can see the status of your absentee ballot online.

12. How can I vote early at the Blaine County Election Office?

All eligible Blaine County residents can vote at the Blaine County Election Office beginning 3 weeks before each election. Voting hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The last day of early voting is always the Friday before Election Day.

Election Day voters must visit their polling places between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

13. Where can I vote on Election Day?

On Election Day you can only vote at your assigned polling place. All polling places are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. To receive the ballot with the correct contests and candidates for where you live, you must vote at your assigned polling place. To find the location of your polling place:

• Visit the Blaine County GIS website.
• Call the Blaine County Election Office at 208-788-5510.

14. Do I need to show identification when I vote?

To vote you must either present a photo ID or sign a Personal Identification Affidavit. Acceptable forms of photo identification include any one of the following:

• An Idaho driver’s license or photo identification card.
• An Idaho Concealed Weapons Permit.
• A U.S. passport or Federal photo identification card.
• A tribal photo identification card.
• A current student photo ID, issued by an Idaho high school or post secondary education institution.

15. How do I find out what’s on the ballot?

Information about upcoming elections is posted on the Election Office page as it is available.

16. Are voting materials available in languages other than English?

At this time the Blaine County Election Office provides voter services and official election materials only in English.

17. How do I vote for a write-in candidate who is not listed on the ballot?

To vote for a qualified write-in candidate who is not listed on the ballot, write the person's name on the blank line at the end of the candidate list and fill in the circle. You must fill in the circle for your write-in vote to be counted.

Only write-in votes for qualified write-in candidates can be counted. A list of qualified write-in candidates will be available at the polling place. Vote-by-mail voters can get the list of qualified write-in candidates by calling the Blaine County Election Office at 208-788-5510.

18. What voting machines will Blaine County voters use for the upcoming election?

Blaine County utilized two different ballot types, ExpressVote and Oval Ballots. 

The paper-based ExpressVote Universal Voting System uses touch-screen technology to produce a paper record for tabulation. As a marker, the ExpressVote handles the entire marking process, eliminating unclear marks and the need for interpretation of the voter’s mark. The ExpressVote enables all eligible voters to make their selections privately and independently. It is a fully compliant Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) voting solution.

With an oval ballot voters use a pen to mark a ballot and then insert it into an optical scan voting machine to cast their ballots at the polling place. When the ballot is inserted, this machine, called a DS200, optically scans the marks made on the paper ballot and counts the votes electronically. 

All ballots in Idaho are paper ballots. 

19. Are all polling places accessible?

Yes, all polling places in Blaine County are accessible and offer curbside voting as well.

20. Is my voter registration linked to jury duty service?

Yes. The jury pool is made up of a combination of databases from the Department of Transportation and Voter Registrations. If you have a driver’s license or have registered a vehicle, you are already in the jury pool.