Your guide to voting Tuesday

Don’t panic, but Election Day is Tuesday.

This isn’t one you can sit out, either.

Idahoans will elect a new governor. A close, contentious battle is brewing in the state superintendent’s race. More women are running for office.

Key legislative races could add to the Republican supermajority or give the Democrats an opportunity to pick up a couple of seats.

Refer to this handy voter guide and visit our elections headquarters to make sure you are ready to cast an informed ballot at the polls.

What if I haven’t voted in awhile?

No worries! There is no better time to begin exercising your civic duty than now.

If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, visit the Idaho Votes section of the Secretary of State’s website and double-check.

Same goes if you don’t know where your polling place is. You can enter your address at the Idaho Votes website, and it will tell you where your polling place is. (It’s always smart to check your polling place in advance. Your polling place may have changed since you voted last, especially if it has been a few years or you have moved recently.)

Don’t worry if you aren’t registered to vote yet. In Idaho, you can always register at the polls. Just remember to bring a document with your current address (a current utility bill works!) and your photo identification.

Do your research first (cramming is allowed!)

Idaho Education News’ team has spent all summer and fall covering the issues and races to help you become an informed voter.

  • The superintendent’s race is hugely important, and it may be the closest statewide race on Tuesday. Here’s everything you need to know.
  • After 12 years under Gov. Butch Otter, Idaho will elect a new governor Tuesday. Get caught up on this contentious race — and how it could affect education — with our preview story.
  • All 105 seats in the Legislature are up for election this year. Many aren’t contested, but a few key races could really shake things up. Check them out here.
  • Every Ada County and Canyon County voter will also weigh in on College of Western Idaho’s trustee’s race and levy election. The trustee’s race has flown under the radar, but we have a handy profile to help you meet the candidates.

On Election Day

Tuesday is the big day, and polls are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., local time.

To vote in Idaho, you will need to bring your photo ID, or be prepared to fill out a legal affidavit attesting to your identity.

Acceptable forms of photo ID include:

  • An Idaho driver’s license or state ID card.
  • A U.S. passport.
  • A tribal photo ID.
  • An Idaho student ID issued by an accredited high school, college, university or technical school.
  • A concealed carry license that has been issued by a county sheriff in Idaho.

Need a lift?

If you live in Boise, you can rent one of the new Lime scooters to take to the polls, for free (valid for up to 30 minutes). Use the Lime app to locate a scooter near you, and enter the code LIME2VOTE18 to unlock a free ride.

If Uber or Lyft is available in your town, you may also be able to get a discounted trip to the polls if you use the latest version of the app. (Be prepared to pay full fare for the trip home, though.) For Uber, download the latest version of the app and use the “polling place locator” or “get to the polls” feature to unlock a discount code.

When will we know who wins?

It depends. Results will begin to trickle in at 9 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Idaho EdNews’ team will be up late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning updating results in real-time for the biggest races in Idaho.

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Clark Corbin

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