Ada County sees uptick in early voting and absentee ballot requests ahead of 2026 general election
- Ada County has issued approximately 156,000 ballots, up from 136,000 at the same point in the previous midterm cycle.
- Nearly two-thirds of those ballots have been returned; nearly 94,000 Idahoans have voted early.
- Proposition 1 and interest in other ballot issues and races may be contributing to higher participation.
- Whether early voting leads to higher overall turnout remains uncertain, as some voters may simply be voting earlier than usual.
As the November 3 election approaches, Ada County has already surpassed its early-voting total from 2018. County Clerk Trent Tripple said about 60% of Ada County voters typically cast ballots on Election Day; if that pattern continues, this could be the county’s highest-turnout midterm general election in a long time. Boise State University political science professor Jaclyn Kettler said attention to Proposition 1, which could affect access to certain reproductive rights in Idaho, may encourage voters to participate. Tripple also cited interest in major races and ballot issues as possible turnout drivers.
Sources & Notes
AI helped edit this piece. The author checked the facts and was the final editor.