Idaho
1 Check ID Rules
Voting in Person
Idaho requests photo ID to vote in person. You can vote without an ID if you sign a form confirming your identity (called a Personal Identification Affidavit).
Accepted Photo IDs
You can show:
Must be unexpired or show no expiration date
- Idaho driver’s license
- Idaho state ID card
- Tribal identification
- US passport or passport card
- Other photo ID issued by US government
Voting by Mail
Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot in Idaho. You don’t have to give a reason why you can’t vote in person.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot
You must provide an ID number if you request an absentee ballot online. You can use:
- Idaho driver’s license number
- Idaho state ID card number
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number
You do not need to provide this information if you complete a paper request form or request your ballot at your county elections office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a free ID in Idaho?
You can get a free state ID card in Idaho.
The Idaho DMV issues state ID cards for free to residents who need it for voting purposes (including voter registration). You need to be at least 18 years old and must not have possessed a valid driver’s license for at least six months.
Request your free state ID at your county’s DMV office.
You will be required to provide proof of:
- Age and identity (common examples: birth certificate, US passport, naturalization documents)
- Any legal name changes
- Idaho residency (common examples: a lease or rental agreement, utility bill, school enrollment records)
- US citizenship (if DMV does not already have a scanned record on file)
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Idaho?
If you don’t have a photo ID accepted for voting in Idaho, you can still vote a regular ballot. You must complete and sign a Personal Identity Affidavit form to confirm your identity.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Idaho?
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Idaho?
You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in Idaho.
REAL ID is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards.
Applying for a REAL ID requires you to appear in person with a variety of documents to prove your identity.
Visit the Idaho Transportation Department website to find out exactly what is required to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card (called a star card in Idaho).
Can you fix your absentee ballot if it is rejected?
2 Register
Idaho Voter Registration Requirements
You must register before you can vote in Idaho.
You are eligible to vote in Idaho if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of the United States.
- You are a resident of Idaho.
- You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
You cannot register to vote in Idaho if:
- You have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored.
Proof of Identity and Idaho Residency
Idaho requires you to present both proof of identity and proof of residency when registering to vote.
To prove your identity, you must provide one of the following types of unexpired photo ID:
- Idaho driver’s license or state ID card
- Passport or other ID card issued by an agency of the federal government
- Tribal identification card
- Idaho license or enhanced license to carry concealed weapons
To prove your residency, you must provide one of the following types of ID. Your ID must list your name and a physical address in Idaho (not a P.O. Box):
- Any of the types of photo ID that can be used to prove identity
- Current proof of insurance
- Deed, mortgage, rental agreement or lease
- Property tax assessment, bill or receipt
- Utility bill (except cell phone bill)
- Pay-stub, pay check, government-issued check
- Intake document from residential or assisted living facility licensed in Idaho
- Enrollment paperwork for the current school year by a high school, college or university located in Idaho
- A letter on letterhead from a public or private social service agency registered with the secretary of state verifying that the applicant is homeless and confirming the applicant’s residence for registration purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register and vote on the same day in Idaho?
Yes, Idaho allows you to register and vote in person on Election Day.
You must show an accepted photo ID and proof of residency (dated at least 30 days prior to Election Day).
The deadline to register online or by mail is 25 days before Election Day.
Can I register to vote in Idaho if I have been convicted of a crime?
Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.
To check your eligibility to register to vote in Idaho use Restore Your Vote.
You can also learn more by reading this blog post: Can People Convicted of a Felony Vote in the United States?
Can I register to vote in Idaho if I attend college in Idaho ?
College students are allowed to vote using their Idaho school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in Idaho if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.
Student ID is not accepted for voting in Idaho. You can find a full list of your ID options here.
Register to Vote in Idaho
Submit the form below to register in Idaho.
Don’t have a state-issued ID? VoteRiders is here to help!
3 Vote
Voting in Person
Idaho requests photo ID to vote in person. You can vote without an ID if you sign a form confirming your identity (called a Personal Identification Affidavit).
Accepted Photo IDs
You can show:
Must be unexpired or show no expiration date
- Idaho driver’s license
- Idaho state ID card
- Tribal identification
- US passport or passport card
- Other photo ID issued by US government
Voting by Mail
Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot in Idaho. You don’t have to give a reason why you can’t vote in person.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot
You must provide an ID number if you request an absentee ballot online. You can use:
- Idaho driver’s license number
- Idaho state ID card number
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number
You do not need to provide this information if you complete a paper request form or request your ballot at your county elections office.
Returning an Absentee Ballot
You do not need to include ID with your completed ballot. The signature on your ballot envelope will be compared to the one on file with the state.
