Idaho residents can vote with confidence this May

As Idahoans cast their ballot in the May 19th primary election, I want to share a simple message: you can vote with confidence in Idaho.

That confidence does not happen by accident. It is earned through the steady, careful work of county clerks and election teams across our state, people who take seriously their duty to ensure that Idaho’s elections are accessible, secure and accurate.

In Bonner County, County Clerk Michael Rosedale, and in Boundary County, County Clerk Glenda Poston, work incredibly hard to ensure that every Idahoan has the opportunity to vote and that every vote counts.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, all 44 of Idaho’s county clerks joined me in signing a public commitment to Idaho voters. Together, we affirmed our shared responsibility to protect the accessibility, integrity, and security of Idaho’s elections. At the same time, we released the 12 Principles of Idaho Elections, which continue to guide this work today.

That commitment still stands.

At a time when election debates continue across the country, I believe it matters that Idahoans understand what election integrity looks like here at home. It looks like voter registration opportunities that are straightforward and accessible. It looks like voter ID requirements, signature verification, voter roll maintenance, paper ballots, public testing and post-election audits. It looks like trained poll workers, prepared polling places and election officials who spend months getting the details right before a single ballot is cast.

In Idaho, voting should be easy, voting should be secure and elections must be accurate. These are not just slogans. They are the principles that shape how we conduct elections and serve voters in every county of this state.

Idahoans also have an incredible resource in VoteIdaho.gov. Voters can register, request an absentee ballot, find their polling place, check their voter record and view a personalized sample ballot there. It is one of the best tools we have to make participation easier and more transparent for every voter, no matter where they live.

Primary elections matter deeply in Idaho. They help shape the future of our communities and our state. For many Idahoans, the choices made in May are every bit as important as those made in November.

As our nation approaches 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, it is worth remembering that self-government depends on both an engaged citizenry and election officials who faithfully carry out the process. We honor that inheritance not only by protecting the right to vote, but by exercising it.

I am proud to serve alongside Idaho’s county clerks. I am proud of the work they do, while not always visible, it is essential. Most of all, I am proud that in Idaho, you can cast your vote knowing it will count, and knowing the system behind it deserves your confidence.

This election season, I encourage every eligible voter to participate. And when you do, I hope you do so with the confidence that your vote will count, your voice will be heard and Idaho’s elections remain worthy of your trust.

Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s 28th Secretary of State and took office Jan. 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022. McGrane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.