In 2024, Gus Trudell-Richardson, a UI student, stood in line for nearly seven hours to cast his ballot on Election Day at the campus polling location. A same-day voter registrant, Trudell-Richardson stood in line for 45 minutes to complete his voter registration and for six hours to cast his ballot. More than 200 people were in line when the polls closed at 8 p.m.. Many would-be voters had to give up and never got to cast a ballot.
No other polling locations in the state of Idaho reported such startling delays. The wait times came on the heels of new legislation championed by Representative Brandon Mitchell to make voter registration documentation requirements stricter and ban the use of a student identification card.
This year, early voting options on campus can help students exercise their right to vote.
Early voting is being held Oct. 19-30 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the ISUB Vandal Lounge and the Latah County Fairgrounds. In-person voting on Nov. 3 will be held from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. in thePitman Vandal Ballroom and the Latah County Fairgrounds. You can register to vote when you show up at the polls.
Absentee voting, or voting by mail, is another option. Ballot requests must be received by Oct. 23 and can be made at VoteIdaho.gov. Completed ballots can be mailed back or left in the ballot drop-box at the Latah County Courthouse. The county must receive your completed ballot by Nov 3, so it should be mailed with ample time for the post office to deliver it.
Voters can pre-register to vote online by Oct. 23 at VoteIdaho.gov with an Idaho’s driver’s license or Idaho identification card and proof of residency. Other forms of identification can be used to register in person, which are a passport, tribal identification card, and concealed weapons permit. Student enrollment forms, among other options, can be used to prove residency in Idaho.
Voters unsure of whether their registration information is current can also go to VoteIdaho.gov to view their voter record.
This year’s ballot will be especially long. Latah County residents can view a sample ballot at LatahCounty.gov under the Elections section. The Argonaut will publish a comprehensive election guide online at uiargonaut.com and in print on Thursday, Oct. 22, with information on all candidates and ballot measures.
Prop 1, a citizen-led ballot initiative, stands to decriminalize and restore abortion access in Idaho. By voting yes for Prop 1, you’re agreeing to amend the abortion law as it currently stands to allow for more access and remove the threat of punishment for healthcare providers. Voting no for Prop 1 means you wish the law to remain unchanged and to preserve Idaho as a near total abortion-ban state.
The Idaho Legislature has placed two constitutional amendments on the ballot. One will decide whether citizens can bring ballot initiatives to change marijuana and psychoactive substance laws or take that option off the table so that only the Legislature can make laws on this topic. Another constitutional amendment would designate English as the official state language, even though this is already in state law. There is also an advisory vote for the firearm that should be designated the state gun.
Latah County races and District 6’s legislative races are often decided with narrow margins. Strong voter turnout is expected this year.