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A Brief Guide to Party Affiliation in Idaho

by Robin Lake
October 19, 2011

Statewide elections in Idaho come in two distinct flavors: the Primary and the General. The General Election belongs to the State, and provides for the election of presidents, federal office holders; state senators and representatives; the governor, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state, etc; and at the county level for sheriffs, tax collectors, commissioners, and so on.

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Primary Elections in Idaho

by Robin Lake
October 17, 2011

The purpose of primary elections in the State of Idaho is to allow members of recognized political parties to select their party's nominees, who will then be placed on the ballot at General Election time. Primary Elections often are referred to as "Party Primaries." Persons who are not members of a party may not participate in the selection of that party's nominees. However, Idaho law does allow political parties the option of opening their primary elections to "unaffiliated" voters and members of other political parties. The party chairman must notify the Secretary of State six months prior to the primary if they intend to open it to those outside the party.