At the urging of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on mail-in voting, threatening an Executive Order banning the practice. The President does not have the Constitutional authority to carry out this threat. Elections are under the authority of the States. Eliminating mail-in voting in Idaho would disenfranchise many qualified voters, including those living in rural or remote areas who do not have access to in-person voting. Idaho has 11 such precincts that are mail-in voting only. Others who rely on this voting service are military personnel and their families, as well as those who are traveling, conducting out-of-state religious services, or those caring for others. Changing Idaho law, the only way to eliminate mail-in voting, would also impact those without transportation or the flexibility to leave work, and citizens with disabilities. Other voters want to take time with their ballot, studying candidates and the issues. Absentee balloting facilitates more informed voting choices.

With 34 other countries using some form of mail-in voting, the US is not alone. A Republican President attacking mail-in voting now is reacting to sentiments of his party that were disavowed in the 2024 general election. In that election, the national Republican party embraced the practice, pumping $16 million into mail voting promotions targeting low propensity voters. The effort paid big dividends. Republicans outpaced Democrats in mail-in voting in some key states. In Pennsylvania alone, GOP voters increased their share of mail-in ballots from 25 percent in 2020 to 32 percent in 2024. It is not a coincidence that the 2020 and 2024 elections have had the highest voter turnout since 1908 at 66 percent and 64 percent respectively. During these elections, mail voting hit its highest levels with 43 percent during the pandemic and 30 percent when it was actively encouraged.

Eight states, including Utah, Oregon and Washington, allow all elections to be conducted by mail. Other states allow some small elections to be conducted by mail-in ballots. Idahoans have been able to vote by mail through no-excuse absentee balloting since 1970. Since 2021, this previously uncontroversial provision has seen three attempts by legislators to either eliminate it or restrict it under the pretense of election integrity. Each time, they have claimed that absentee balloting was only intended for special cases. The intent of the governing statute 34-1001 is clear: “Any registered elector of the state of Idaho may vote in any election by absentee ballot.” Additionally, Idahoans have been told repeatedly by successive secretaries of state that Idaho has free, fair and secure elections. There are multiple layers of security provided for in the absentee balloting process to make sure only those eligible to vote do so.

Research has shown over time that increasing voting options, including mail-in voting, increases voter turnout. With Idaho at an average of 54 percent voter turnout in General Elections since 1980 and a meager 21 percent in Primary Elections when most races are decided, it would bode poorly for Idaho if this option were eliminated or restricted.

Idahoans who are eligible to vote should be encouraged to exercise their Constitutional right to vote in all elections. Voting options enable citizens to participate in our democracy and make us stronger as a state and as a nation. The struggle for voting rights has been ongoing since the founding of this nation. The League of Women Voters advocates for empowering voters. We, the people, are responsible for protecting mail-in voting.