Register To Vote

Former Congressman William H. Judd once stated, “People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that’s not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote—a very different thing.”

More than 50 million citizens in this country are eligible to vote, but many of us don’t bother to register.

Maybe you’re not registered because you’ve convinced yourself that you should steer clear of politics.

However, avoiding becoming involved in the political process is neither possible nor wise. Political decisions will be made for you even if you choose not to participate. You still have to pay taxes even if you don’t vote. Your child’s education will be impacted even if you don’t vote.

So why not participate? If you take part, you can make the system better.

Idaho politics will never be perfect, but it is possible to improve the political landscape.

Voting is a valuable right. Many take that right for granted, but countless people who came before us made their voices heard through the power of voting.

In the words of Congressman Judd, make yourself heard; exercise your right to vote.

OK, so how do I register to vote in Idaho?

In Idaho, you can register to vote before or on Election Day. To vote in Idaho, you must be:

• a U.S. citizen,
• at least 18 years of age,
• a resident for 30 days prior to the election, and
• qualified (i.e., you cannot be convicted of a felony or you must have had your rights restored if previously convicted of a felony).

To register on Election Day, simply present photo identification with your current address (typically a driver’s license) at your polling place and complete the registration form. If your photo identification does not list your current address, you will need to bring an additional piece of proof of current address (such as a utility bill).

For official voting information, check out idahovotes.gov.