It’s Election Day. Here’s what you need to know before heading to the polls
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Portions of this article are taken from the Idaho Statesman.
IDAHO FALLS – 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?
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 here.
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.
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.
EastIdahoNews.com sent questionnaires to candidates running in local races. You can learn about their platforms and read their responses to the questions here.
You can view what’s on your own ballot here.
Idahoans will choose whether to send newcomers or long-term incumbents to Washington D.C. to represent Idaho’s 1st and 2nd congressional districts. Eastern Idaho falls within Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District.
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.
EastIdahoNews.com will be working late to provide complete election coverage. Up-to-the-second results will be posted as they come in Tuesday evening.
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