Early Returns in Idaho Breaking Records

By Greg Pruett • November 4, 2024

According to data obtained by Idaho Dispatch, early returns from absentee and early voting in Idaho are breaking records.

The data, which is all publicly available, shows that early and absentee voting is much higher than in the last two election cycles. Overall, voting, including election day, is expected to be historic, according to several election clerks Idaho Dispatch spoke with.

The data is compared to the general election of 2022, which was a non-presidential election year. However, the numbers are the highest in Idaho history regardless.

According to data reviewed from November 4th (Note: Data is changing in each county consistently, so this data is likely behind by a day), 237,000 Republicans have voted early or submitted their absentee ballots. That is compared to 95,000 in 2022 from one day before the election.

Democrats have 55,000 votes cast compared to 29,000 in 2022.

Unaffiliated voters, Idaho’s second-largest voting bloc, cast 81,000 votes in 2024 compared to 33,000 in 2022. For third parties, Libertarians cast 2,500 votes compared to 665 in 2022, and Constitution Party members cast 1,030 votes compared to 278 votes cast early in 2022.

The total votes cast when Idaho Dispatch received this data was 377,000.

It remains to be seen if the early votes and absentee votes are individuals who typically vote on election day but chose to vote early or whether there will be a significant increase in overall voter turnout regardless.

Did you vote early? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo courtesy of Matt Edwards.