Idaho Population & Voter Participation
Why These Numbers Matter
Laws in Idaho apply to everyone, regardless of age, voter status, or political affiliation.
However, only a portion of the population is eligible to vote. Of those eligible, fewer are registered. And of those registered, only a fraction actually participate in elections.
This page presents a clear, data-driven snapshot of how representation in Idaho functions in practice — using publicly available statistics.
Understanding these numbers helps explain how authority is exercised, and why political outcomes may not reflect the full population.
Total Population: 1.96 million residents
This figure includes:
Children
Non-citizens
Voting-age adults
Registered and unregistered voters
Every person in this group is affected by laws passed in Idaho.
Voting-Age Population: 1.45 million adults
Idaho Residents Age 18+
This represents residents who are potentially eligible to vote based on age alone.
Not all voting-age adults are registered voters.
Total Registered Voters: 1.18 million registered voters
This group includes voters registered as:
Republican
Democratic
Unaffiliated / Independent
Other minor parties
Registration does not guarantee participation.
Actual Voters: 917,000 voters
Ballots Cast Statewide
This represents the number of people who actually participated in the election.
When compared to the full population:
~47% of Idaho residents voted (47% of 1.96 million)
~63% of voting-age adults voted (63% of 1.45 million adults)
~78% of registered voters voted (78% of 1.18 million)
(Percentages rounded for clarity.)
In the 2024 general election, about 82% of Idaho’s voting-age adults were registered to vote, but only about 64% of that group actually cast ballots — meaning a significant portion of residents did not participate despite being eligible.
What This Means
A minority of the population actively determines election outcomes
Those outcomes govern 100% of residents
Legislative authority reflects participation, not population size
Non-voters are still governed by the results
This does not imply wrongdoing. It reflects how representative systems function when participation varies.
Why Idaho Liberty Project Tracks This
The Idaho Liberty Project uses population and voter participation data to:
Provide context for legislative outcomes
Explain how authority is exercised
Clarify representation versus participation
Ground policy discussions in measurable reality
These statistics help define what is meant when laws are described as being decided by “a small number of people.”
How This Page Is Used
This page is referenced throughout the Idaho Liberty Project to provide context for:
Bill analysis
Election outcomes
Representation discussions
Civic education content
It is intended as a reference point — not an argument.
Data Sources
Data on this page is compiled from publicly available sources, including: