Elections FAQ

You may register to vote if you meet ALL of the following criteria:

• A citizen of the United States
• A resident of Idaho
• At least 18 years of age as of the next election
• Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony

In order to be pre-registered for an upcoming election, the county clerk must receive your registration card postmarked no later than the 25th day prior to the election. If you miss the deadline to pre-register, you can still register at the polls on Election Day. You can contact the County Clerk’s office at (208) 382-7100 to find out where your polling place is.

You may register to vote online at Begin My Voter Application  Or by requesting the form:

• By mail: Mail your request for mail-in registration form to

Valley County Elections
PO Box 1350
Cascade, ID 83611

• By phone: call the Elections Department at (208) 382-7101
• In Person: visit the Valley County Recorder’s Office at

219 N. Main Street
Cascade, ID

• At any City Clerk’s office in Valley County
• Email elections@co.valley.id.us

No. A person may only register to vote at his or her place of residence. A business address or a PO Box may only be used as a mailing address.

When you move or change your name. Your voter registration should always reflect your current residence address.

If you were previously registered within Valley County and moved within the County’s borders, you can vote at the polling place for your new address. You should bring your Idaho Driver’s License, Idaho State ID Card, US Passport, Tribal ID or Concealed Weapon Permit issued by a county sheriff in Idaho with your current address and proof of residency that includes your name and your current residence:

• Mail addressed to the voter
• Utility bill
• Credit Card bill
• Military Identification
• College or University fee card, student ID, or billing statement
• Lease agreement
• Mortgage Statement
• Property tax statement
• Income Tax Return
• Bank Statement
• Preprinted check or deposit slip
• Vehicle registration

No. You must be a registered voter for your signature to be valid on a petition. If you complete a voter registration card on the same date or a date prior to signing the petition, your signature will be valid. The elections official must receive the completed, signed voter registration card on or before the date the petition is filed with the elections office.

Voting by mail is the same as voting by Absentee ballot. Rather than going to the polling place to cast a vote on Election day, you may request an absentee ballot. Any registered voter may apply for an absentee ballot. Applying is easy. Simply select one of the following options:

• By mail: Submit a Request for Absentee Ballot Form to

Valley County Elections
PO Box 1350
Cascade, ID 83611

• By phone: call the Elections Department at (208) 382-7100 and we will mail you an Absentee Ballot Request Form
• In Person: visit the Valley County Recorder’s Office at 219 N. Main Street, Cascade, ID to complete an Absentee Ballot Request form. You may then take your ballot with you, or vote in person at our office.
• Email elections@co.valley.id.us to request an Absentee Ballot Request Form.
• By Internet: download and complete an Absentee Ballot Request Form from our web site Absentee Ballot Request. You may then return your form by any of the above methods.

Yes. Individuals, organizations, and groups may distribute Absentee Ballot Request forms; however, they must use the standard format as specified in the Idaho Elections Code. Elections official are not responsible for the applications returned to these groups. To ensure your ballot is mailed to you in a timely manner, it is recommended that you fax, mail, or bring your application directly to the Elections Office.

You may request an absentee ballot as early as 60 days prior to an election.

Absentee ballots must be received in our office by the elections officials no later than the close of polls (8pm) on Election Day.

You may return it by mail to

Valley County Clerk’s Office
PO Box 1350
Cascade, Idaho, 83611

or in person between 8-5 M-F at

Valley County Clerk’s Office
219 N. Main St
Cascade, Idaho, 83611

McCall Courthouse Annex
550 Deinhard Ln
McCall, Idaho, 83638

by 8pm on Election Day. If, because of serious illness or physical disability, you unable to return the ballot yourself, you may authorize in writing a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, brother, or sister to return the ballot on your behalf.

Yes, but please take your absentee ballot to the polling place and surrender it to the poll workers. The poll workers will spoil your Absentee ballot and issue you a new ballot. If you do not have your Absentee ballot to surrender, you will be allowed to vote; however, Idaho Code 18-2307 states someone making “an attempt to vote more than once at any election, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Call the Elections Office at (208) 382-7101 to verify your Precinct (or) use our GIS Map to find your Precinct

The Elections staff will try our hardest to accommodate emergency situations which occur within 96 hours of the election. Call (208) 382-7100 to inquire about possible accommodations, including home delivery of your ballot. and I have suffered a medical emergency. Is there any way for me to vote?

County Election polling locations are open from 8am to 8pm on Election Day.

In Idaho, there are no permanent poll sites. Locations may change from election to election if a facility previously used is not available for a particular election. Less commonly, changes to precinct boundaries may sometimes occur when precincts are consolidated or realigned, especially for local elections that are not statewide.

Yes. Ask the election workers to help you with the voting process. Poll worker cannot, however, help you in making decisions on your voting choices.

Yes, if the person is a qualified write-in candidate. Only votes for qualified write-in candidates will be counted. You may ask an election poll worker or call the Elections office at (208) 382-7101 to inquire if someone is a qualified write-in.