By Secretary of State Phil McGrane
Highlights from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office
April 17, 2026
Helping Idahoans Vote with Confidence
In elections, everyone likes to see wide margins. On election night in 2020, one local Idaho race was anything but.
At the time, I was serving as Ada County Clerk. As the results came in, one race jumped off the page. In the contest for Ada County Highway District Commissioner, more than 40,000 votes were cast. When the votes were tallied, just two votes separated the candidates. It doesn’t get much closer than that. A recount followed and confirmed the result.
But what struck me most that night wasn’t the razor-thin margin. Buried in the data, we later learned that of the voters eligible to vote in that district (who had made the effort to vote in person or request an absentee ballot), more than 10,000 left that race blank.
I often share this story as a reminder that your vote truly matters. But it also highlights something just as important: voters want to make informed choices. And when they don’t feel they have enough information, many will choose to leave a race blank rather than guess.
This May 19th Primary is a milestone. For the first time in a primary election, every registered voter in Idaho can look up their personalized sample ballot at VoteIdaho.gov in advance of Election Day. This sample ballot will show you every race and every candidate on your specific ballot, so there are no surprises when you step into the voting booth.
This year’s ballot includes everything from Idaho’s congressional delegation and statewide offices to legislative seats, county positions, and local district races, all the way down to precinct committeemen. What appears on your ballot depends on where you live and, importantly for this primary election, your party affiliation.
More Information for Voters
The number one request this office receives is simple: give us more information. Making personalized sample ballots available to all Idahoans was a top priority when I took office, and I’m pleased that it’s now a reality.
But I’m not stopping there. I’ve continued to push legislation for a comprehensive voter guide, one that gives Idahoans meaningful information on candidates and ballot measures before they vote. That effort is ongoing, and we continue to look for new ways to get more information into voters’ hands.
Because more information and greater transparency always serve the voter.
Phil McGrane
About Brian Almon
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
