A procrastinator’s guide to the election: What’s it about? Can I vote? Find help here
You’ve likely gotten candidate flyers in the mail, seen ads on TV or social media, or spotted yard signs in your neighborhood. But we are all busy. Maybe you haven’t had time to prepare for this year’s local election.
Election Day is Tuesday. This guide is for the people who haven’t had time to prepare, or who maybe didn’t even realize there was an election this week. Here’s what you need to do to vote successfully:
Election? What election?
Yes, it does feel like we just had a big election. But this one is different. Its purpose is for voters to elect people in local city, school district and special-district contests to serve as mayors, city council members and district trustees.
Voters in all Ada County cities but Garden City have mayoral races on their ballots. In Canyon County, voters in Middleton do too. All cities have city council races. The West Ada, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell and Vallivue school districts have board seats with competitive contests.
There are an Ada County jail bond, a Caldwell fire bond to build two new fire stations, levies for schools in the Middleton and Nampa school districts, and a question about selling liquor by the drink in Middleton.
You can find the list of candidates and races in your city at IdahoStatesman.com in the stories “Ada County voters: See here who’s running in November 2023 elections in your city” and “Canyon County voters: See here who’s running in November 2023 elections in your city.”
OK, but registering to vote seems intimidating.
You can easily find out if you are registered to vote, in case you forgot, at voteidaho.gov.
If you’re not registered, you can register at your polling place on Election Day. Find your polling place at voteidaho.gov too.
You must bring:
1. A photo identification (state issued ID, tribal card, U.S. passport or current student ID).
2. A state ID number
3. Proof of residency (utility bill, lease, bank statement, etc.).
Registration is required if you’ve changed addresses since the last election. You can check the Idaho secretary of state’s website to see if you’re registered at your current address.
If you’re already registered to vote, you can head to your polling place with just an ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, tribal card, U.S. passport, or until Jan. 1, a student ID card.
What’s on my ballot?
Good question. This is the first election in which many voters in the Treasure Valley may be electing their city council members by district. A new state law prohibits at-large (citywide) voting for council seats in cities with 100,000 or more residents. That means Boise, Meridian and Nampa ballots in those cities will be different than in past municipal elections.
If you are an Ada County voter, you can find your sample ballot on the Ada County Elections website. Scroll down to “View My Ballot.” You will be taken to another page where you’ll click on the blue button that says “View Your Ballot.” You will then be taken to a map page where you will enter your address and search. Your sample ballot should come up, along with the location of your polling place.
If you are a Canyon County voter, you can view your sample ballot on the Canyon County Elections website. Scroll down to “Sample Ballot” and all of the city ballots will come up. If you are a Nampa voter, you can select the “Nampa City Council District Search” button. You will be redirected to a map, where you can type in your address. You’ll see what your council district is. Then you can go back to the sample ballot and see who is running in that district.
I’m late to the game. How do I know who to vote for?
We’ve got you covered. Begin with the Idaho Statesman story, “Start here to know who & what you’re voting on. Our Voter Guide to city, school elections.”
Here you will find links to our Voter Guides, where the candidates answered our questions. You’ll also find links to our news and feature stories, including exclusive investigative and watchdog reporting. You’ll find links to other news outlets’ stories too.
You can also find our Voter Guides at www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide.
Where is my polling place? When should I vote?
The same place you found your sample ballot will tell you where your polling place is. See “What’s on my ballot?” above for instructions.
All polling locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What about the results?
Your favorite Statesman reporters are committed to staying up late to bring you election results Tuesday night. Watch for vote tallies, stories and photos at IdahoStatesman.com.
Start here to know who & what you’re voting on. Our Voter Guide to city, school elections
Still undecided for Tuesday’s election? Our picks for Boise mayor, council, more | Opinion
