Babe Vote and the League of Women Voters of Idaho say Idaho’s voting laws have made voter-registration drives and voting more difficult, particularly for young voters.
House Bill 124 and House Bill 340, enacted in 2023, removed student identification cards from the list of acceptable voting ID. House Bill 340 also standardized in-person and online registration requirements and required the Idaho Transportation Department to provide voting identification cards at no cost.
Babe Vote paused its voter-registration efforts after the laws took effect. Olivia Luna, 21, said the requirements create a significant obstacle for students who may live in dorms or apartments, maintain records at their parents’ house, or hold a current out-of-state driver’s license.
“I would say it puts up a pretty significant road block for most students,” Luna said.
Phil McGrane said registration among Idaho voters ages 18 to 25 has remained consistent, though participation tends to rise during presidential election years. He described the pattern as an “ebb and flow” that follows the four-year election cycle.
McGrane said eligible voters can register remotely through voteIdaho.gov by uploading acceptable identification and a selfie. The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office also mails voter-information pamphlets to every Idaho household.
During the November 2022 election, 104 Idaho voters used student IDs to vote, while more than 400,000 voters were checked in statewide. Overall turnout was nearly 78% in November 2024 and about 29% in November 2025. The facts provided reference lower participation among the youngest and first-time voters in 2025 and 2026.
An Idaho judge ruled that the state’s voting laws are constitutional.