Absentee Voting

Idaho law provides for absentee voting for registered voters.

Apply to Vote Absentee in Washington County

To vote absentee, you must be a registered voter. mail-in voter registration cards can be requested from the Clerk’s office.

Voters who wish to vote early, or will be unable to vote at their precinct in the upcoming elections, may vote by mail or at the Washington County Clerk’s Office as provided by Idaho Code 34-1002.

Those wishing to vote absentee by mail must first submit an Absentee Voter Application (PDF) or request by letter including your name, home address, and mailing address where you want the ballot to be sent. Printed name and signature to be verified. 

The completed application can be delivered by mail, or in person, to the Clerk’s Office.

Refer to the election calendar for the ‘Last Day’ an application for mail-in ballots can be received.

Submitting Your Vote

You may absentee vote in person at the Clerk’s Office in the Washington County Courthouse through the last day of each election cycle as outlined in the election calendar.

The absentee ballot must be received in the Clerk’s Office no later than 8 p.m. on election day.

Important Definitions

34-104. “Qualified elector” defined. 

  1. “Qualified elector” means any person who is eighteen (18) years of age, is a United States citizen and who has resided in this state and in the county at least thirty (30) days next preceding the election at which he/she desires to vote, and who is registered as required by law.

34-107. “Residence” defined. 

  1. "Residence," for voting purposes, shall be the principal or primary home or place of abode of a person. Principal or primary home or place of abode is that home or place in which his habitation is fixed and to which a person, whenever he is absent, has the present intention of returning after a departure or absence therefrom, regardless of the duration of absence.
  2. If a person claims an exemption under section 63-602G, Idaho Code, then the homestead for which the exemption is claimed shall be the person’s residence for voting purposes. If no such exemption is claimed, then in determining the principal or primary place of abode of a person, the following circumstances relating to such person may be taken into account: business pursuits, employment, income sources, residence for income or other tax pursuits, residence of parents, spouse, and children, if any, leaseholds, situs of personal and real property, and motor vehicle registration.
  3. A qualified elector who has left his home and gone into another state or territory or county of this state for a temporary purpose only shall not be considered to have lost his residence.
  4. A qualified elector shall not be considered to have gained a residence in any county or city of this state into which he comes for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making it his home but with the intention of leaving it when he has accomplished the purpose that brought him there.
  5. If a qualified elector moves to another state, or to any of the other territories, with the intention of making it his permanent home, he shall be considered to have lost his residence in this state.