BOISE, Idaho — Obviously, the state's population has absolutely exploded in the past couple of decades. Despite a lot of young families moving in, the population of people of voting age has also exploded. All of Idaho only had 646,000 potential voters back in 1980. That shot up to 921,000 in the next 20 years, and exploded again, up to more than 1.3 million by the last presidential election. But how many of these people are actually voting?
After taking a dip following the 1980 election, the number of ballots cast exploded in 2020, with the state setting a record of more than 878,000.
What's perhaps most important is that the number of people who can vote, are voting at a greater pace. 69% of those Idahoans of voting age voted in 1980. That rate was one of the lowest we saw for a presidential election in 2000 at just 56%. 1990 and 2010 were midterms. But in the last presidential election, that rate bounced back to 66%.
What kind of turnout can we expect this year? If you ask Canyon County's Clerk, Rick Hogaboam, judging by the early voting numbers, the state could raise the bar again.
"We're on pace for a record. I mean, part of it's just the sheer growth. So, I think we're going to see a record just in sheer volume, clearly. On the percent of turnout, it'll be interesting to see where we land," he said.
If you're able to vote, get out and do it. It's your right. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Idaho. Remember, it's your chance to help Idaho set a record.