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Idahoans have some big decisions to make at the polls November 6. For the first time in more than a decade, someone other than C.L. "Butch" Otter will be governor. Boise State Public Radio News will dig deep into these issues with candidate interviews, features and breaking coverage on Election Night.

Idaho Voters Shatter Typical Turnout Trends

AP
Voters wait in line at Boise City Hall in Boise, Idaho, to cast ballots in early voting Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.

Idahoans statewide are voting at rates not seen in years. The Idaho Secretary of State’s office confirms nearly 155,000 absentee ballots have been counted this season.

That’s huge for a midterm year.

It’s about 56 percent more than the number of absentee ballots returned in 2014 and 2010.

Early voting has been popular, too. The number of residents who have already voted in Ada County tripled from four years ago.

Jasper LiCalzi is the chair of the Department of Political Economy at College of Idaho. He says that’s good news for the GOP in Idaho.

“Well, usually, the higher the turnout, the better it is for Republicans. Historically, in the last 25 years or so, Republicans have been really dominant,” LiCalzi says.

Voters across the country are turning out in droves, too. As of Monday afternoon, at least 36 million people have voted, according to Michael McDonald, a researcher at University of Florida.

McDonald expects every state to surpass its 2014 turnout rate.

Follow James Dawson on Twitter @RadioDawson for more local news.

Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio

I cover politics and a bit of everything else for Boise State Public Radio. Outside of public meetings, you can find me fly fishing, making cool things out of leather or watching the Seattle Mariners' latest rebuilding season. If you have a tip, please get in touch!

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