Thursday December 11, 2008
Voting
Citizen participation in the electoral process is critical to a fully-functioning democracy. Our political system works best when active participation is matched with a transparent debate over the issues of the day.
Elections are scheduled in accordance with the needs of a community and laws governing how and when those votes can take place. General elections for federal office are set by federal law are set on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In 2008, that day is November 4.
The current legal voting age in the United States, and in most countries of the world, is eighteen years old. In the United States, this is enshrined in our Constitution by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age from twenty-one years old and was partly a response to the recognition that young adults, aged eighteen years
and older, were being increasingly entrusted with many new responsibilities, including consent to marriage and joining the U.S. Armed Forces. Therefore, it was widely viewed by the American public that those eighteen years old should have a fuller say in selecting the representatives that serve them in local, state and federal government.
Here is some basic information for Idahoans on voting:
What are the qualifications to vote?
In order to be eligible to vote in Idaho, you must be:
- A U.S. Citizen;
- At least 18 years old;
- A resident in the state for at least 30 days prior to election day;
- Registered as required by law.
How, and where, can I register?
There are three possible ways to register in Idaho:
- With your County Clerk or official registrar up until 25 days before the election. Voters are required to provide their driver’s license number when registering, or if they do not have a driver's license, provide the last four digits of their social security number.
- By mail, if postmarked no later than 25 days prior to the election.
- At the polling place on election day. You must provide documentation which contains a valid address in the precinct , complete a registration card, make an oath in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State and provide a photo ID card.
Where do I vote?
- Voting takes place at polling places in each election precinct. You can contact your County Clerk to find the address of the polling places in your precinct. Also, IdahoVotes.gov has provided an easy informational system that will tell you where you can vote.
Useful Links
Election Assistance Commission