Absentee Voting
Idaho law provides for absentee voting for registered voters.
Any voters who would normally request assistance for voting or who have accessibility concerns should contact the clerk’s office to discuss what accommodations can be made available- Please email elections@co.gem.id.us or call 208-365-4561.
Those wishing to vote absentee by mail must first submit an Application for absentee ballot request or request by letter including your name, home address, and address you want the ballot to be mailed to. Click on the following link to view and print a copy of the election absentee ballot request form:
Idaho Military and Overseas Citizens - UOCAVA
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See information on topic 4. Absentee Voting> 4.5 Military + Overseas
2023 Elections
March 3, 2023 - Deadline: Absentee applications must be received by 5pm for the March 14th Election
March 14, 2023 - Election Day
May 5, 2023 - Deadline: Absentee applications must be received by 5pm for the May 16th Election
May 16, 2023 - Election Day
August 18, 2023 - Deadline: Absentee applications must be received by 5pm for the August 29th, 2023
August 29, 2023 - Election Day
October 27, 2023 - Deadline: Absentee applications must be received by 5pm for the November 7th Election
November 7, 2023 - Election Day
2023 Calendar Year Absentee Ballot Application (pdf)
All parties requesting a ballot form must sign the letter of request. The completed application can be delivered by mail, or in person, to Gem County Clerk’s Office, Gem County Courthouse, Room 202, 415 E. Main Street, Emmett, ID 83617, faxed to (208)365-7795 or email to elections@co.gem.id.us
The absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk’s Office by 8:00pm on election day.
Absentee Registration and/or Application for Absentee Ballot must be applied for by the Applicant to the County Clerk in the County in which the elector’s Idaho residence is.
Mail-In Voter Registration card:
- Can be printed from the Gem County or Secretary of State’s Office Websites
- Can be requested from the Clerk’s office
Application for an absentee ballot: (you must be registered to vote in Idaho to request an absentee ballot)
- can be requested from Clerk’s office
- can be printed from our web site (pdf)
- or by submitting a written request with the required information (name of elector, residence address in Idaho and mailing address to which such registration or ballot is to be forwarded) signed by the applicant
Important Definitions
34-104. “Qualified elector” defined. “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 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 there from, regardless of the duration of absence.
(2) In determining what is a 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, situs of residence for which the exemption in section 63-602G, Idaho Code, is filed, 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.