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Special coverage from KBSX newsListen to KBSX and NPR for ongoing coverage of Election 2012. We'll have stories from across Idaho and the rest of the country on Morning Edition and All Things Considered. We'll also have specials from NPR throughout this election year.Democratic National ConventionRepublican National ConventionLatino Voters Series

Explained: Voting In Idaho's 2012 General Election

Vote 2012 Election
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Flickr Creative Commons

Idaho’s 2012 general election statewide ballot consists of three races, two constitutional amendments, and three propositions.  Plus, depending on your legislative district, will include various Idaho House and Senate candidates.

Idaho’s new voter identification law does require photo ID at the polls, but if you don’t have one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6!

Idaho’s Statewide Ballot

United States President

Independent: Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson

Constitutional: Virgil H. Goode

Libertarian: Gary Johnson

Democrat: Barack Obama

Republican:  Mitt Romney

Independent:  Jill Stein

United States Representative District 1

Democrat: Jimmy Farris

Republican: Raúl R. Labrador

Libertarian: Rob Oates

Independent: Pro-Life

United States Representative District 2

Democrat: Nicole LeFavour

Republican: Mike Simpson

Proposed Constitutional Amendments

S.J.R. 102: “Shall Section 5, Article X, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to provide that the State Board of Correction shall have the control, direction and management of adult felony probation and parole?”

H.J.R 2aa: “Shall Article I, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a New Section 23, to provide that the rights to hunt, fish and trap, including by the use of traditional methods, are a valued part of the heritage of the State of Idaho and shall forever be preserved for the people and managed through the laws, rules and proclamations that preserve the future of hunting, fishing and trapping; to provide that public hunting, fishing and trapping of wildlife shall be a preferred means of managing wildlife; and to provide that the rights set forth do not create a right to trespass on private property, shall not affect rights to divert, appropriate and use water, or establish any minimum amount of water in any water body, shall not lead to a diminution of other private rights, and shall not prevent the suspension or revocation, pursuant to statute enacted by the Legislature, of an individual’s hunting, fishing or trapping license?”

Proposed Referenda

Proposition 1: “Shall the legislation limiting negotiated agreements between teachers and local school boards and ending the practice of issuing renewable contracts be approved?”

Proposition 2: “Shall the legislation providing teacher performance pay based on state-mandated test scores, student performance, hard-to-fill positions and leadership be approved?”

Proposition 3: “Shall the legislation amending school district funding, requiring provision of computing devices and online courses for high school graduation be approved?”

What You Need To Vote

Idaho Voter ID Affidavit
Credit Ada County Elections Office
Here's a sample voter ID affidavit. Click the image to enlarge.

Idaho’s voter ID law is just two years old, so people who haven’t been to the polls since the last presidential election may be surprised when they’re asked for a photo ID.

Your polling place will accept several forms of photo ID, but it’s not required.  If you don’t have a photo ID, ask for a personal identification affidavit.

Here’s a list of the acceptable forms of identification:

  • An Idaho driver’s license
  • A photo ID card from the Idaho Transportation Department
  • A U.S. passport
  • A federal photo ID card
  • A tribal photo ID
  • A current student photo ID, issued by an Idaho high school or university

If you don’t have one of these IDs, an affidavit will still allow you to vote.  It’s a simple, one-page form.  You’ll have to provide your name and address and sign the form in front of an election judge.

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

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