2019 Boise Mayoral Runoff Election

Conservation Voters for Idaho’s endorsed mayoral candidate, Council President Lauren McLean, will head into a runoff election against incumbent Mayor David Bieter.

Why a runoff?

Boise city code mandates that a mayoral candidate must earn a majority of the vote (50% plus one) to win. Because no mayoral candidate earned the majority of the vote during the November 5 election, the top two candidates, McLean and Bieter, move into a runoff election. Lauren McLean received 45.7% and Dave Bieter received 30.3%. Voters will head back to the polls on December 3 to cast their vote on who should be the next Boise Mayor. Early and absentee voting will be available for the runoff election.

Here’s what you need to know about voting in the Boise mayoral runoff election.

  • Voter Registration

    If you registered to vote in the November election, you do not need to re-register. If you are not registered to vote, you can register same-day at the polls, but the pre-registration period has ended. You did not have to be registered in the last election to register in the runoff. To register on Election Day, bring a document with a valid address in your precinct and photo identification when you go to your polling place. Students of a post – secondary education institution may use student photo identification and a fee statement with an address in the precinct from their school to register on Election Day. Unsure if you are registered to vote? Contact the Ada County Clerks office to confirm: (208) 287-6860.

  • Absentee Voting

    If you already voting by absentee ballot in the November election, Ada County will automatically send you an absentee ballot for the runoff election. If you will be out of town during the runoff election or would like to simply cast your ballot by mail, you can request an absentee ballot until November 22nd. For more information on absentee ballots or to download the form, visit the Ada County elections page here.

    • Check to see if your absentee ballot has been received by the county here.
    • Track your absentee ballot here.

    Make sure to get your ballot returned to the Ada County Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, December 3rd. You can return it to the office in person, or get it in the mail by November 26 to make sure it gets there in time!

  • Early Voting

    You can cast your vote early from November 18 – 29, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving Day. Early in-person voting will take place at Ada County Elections (400 N Benjamin Ln, next to the DMV) and Boise City Hall. There will not be a Mobile Voting Truck during the runoff.

  • Vote In Person

    You can vote in person on Tuesday, December 3rd. Polls will be open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Check your polling location at the Ada County Elections page here.

  • What to Bring to the Polls

    A photo identification or signed personal identification affidavit is required to vote. Acceptable forms of personal identification are:

    • An Idaho driver’s license or identification card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department,

    • A passport or photo identification card issued by an agency of the United States government,

    • A Tribal photo identification,

    • A Idaho student photo identification from an accredited institution of higher education including high school, college, university or technical school.

    • A license to carry a concealed weapon issued by a county sheriff in Idaho.

    **You do not need an ID to vote in Idaho if you are already registered. You can request to sign a Personal Identification Affidavit at the polls.**

  • Accessible Voting Options

    Ballots and polling places in Idaho are accessible to all voters. If you or someone you know has difficulty seeing or marking a ballot there are several ways to vote. Voters can be assisted at the polls by a person of their choice or by a poll worker. A ballot marking machine with an audio ballot and enlarged print is also available during early voting and at all polling places for state and federal elections. You may vote from home with a mail-in absentee ballot. Contact your County Clerk before Election Day if you would like assistance to vote or have questions about accessible voting options in Idaho.

Important Election Dates

Friday, November 22

Last day to request an absentee ballot from the Ada County Elections Office.

Monday, November 18

Early voting begins. Polls are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.

Tuesday, November 26

Last day to send in your absentee ballot by mail to ensure it arrives in time.

Thursday, November 28

Early voting is closed for the holiday. Happy Turkey Day!

Friday, November 29

Last day to early vote! Polls close at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 3

Election Day! Polls are open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Absentee ballots can be dropped off in person at the Ada County Elections Office, 400 N Benjamin Ln, Ste 100, Boise, ID 83704 by 8 p.m.

Vote for Lauren McLean on Dec. 3

Three photos - I voted sticker, goat, and man fishing

Boise faces some unique challenges that desperately need to be addressed in order to help solve the climate crisis. In the past four years, the issue of climate change has become more dire and we know that in order to make bold action for our climate, we need bold leaders.

Now more than ever, Boise needs rapid political action. We need to ensure we elect bold leaders in local government who will push the envelope on clean energy, public transportation and open space. We strongly believe Lauren McLean is that leader. Through her strong track record on conservation issues and her undeniable passion for enacting positive change for our environment, Lauren McLean has repeatedly championed our issues, even going above-and-beyond of what has been asked of her – sometimes, even surprising us as to what can be both dreamed of and achieved.

We believe the proposals put forth by Lauren demonstrate the type of change Boise needs. Learn more by exploring the issues below.

Lauren's Conservation Platform

Clean Energy

Solar panels with wind turbines and electricity pylon at sunset.

Lauren McLean was the sponsor of Boise’s Clean Energy plan, which committed Boise to 100% citywide clean electricity by 2035. Lauren now wants to beat that goal, in addition to setting a goal of a carbon-neutral municipal government by 2035. We also appreciate Lauren’s thoughtful approach to ensuring that Boise is an equitable, clean, renewable energy city for all:

  • Conduct an energy audit for all city facilities to see which could be upgraded to net-zero carbon standards, and encourage new city construction to hit those same standards.

  • Prioritize a thermal energy plan to reduce Boise’s dependence on natural gas, to be adopted no later than 2021.

  • Wean Boise’s city fleet off carbon-based fuels, and require that our future investments in buses be all-renewable.

  • Incentivize passive design elements – like vegetated or reflective roofs – to minimize the need for air-conditioning in new buildings.

  • Encourage energy efficiency audits and affordable retrofits.

  • Ensure equitable access to the neighborhoods who need it most, and explore democratizing access to technologies like solar panels.

Learn more by visiting Lauren McLean’s website here.

Open Space

Two hikers overlook city of Boise

Lauren McLean led the first Foothills open space levy, which set aside $10 million to preserve places like Table Rock, Hull’s Gulch, and the Military Reserve. The open space levy has protected over 11,000 acres of undeveloped foothills property in Boise as public open space through acquisition, donation, conservation easement, or land exchange. And, Lauren wants to do even more to work towards protecting open space and setting aside more parks and greenspaces for all Boise residents:

  • Invest now in open spaces, parks, and gathering places, especially for our neighborhoods who need them the most, with the levy funds that have already been set aside.

  • Seek collaborative ways to preserve lands from our Farmlands to our Foothills, connecting open spaces at the edges of Boise – via ribbons of pathways and greenspaces – to the center of the city and beyond.

  • Push for low-stress Pathways For People that connect pedestrians and bicyclists to the places they work, live, and play.

  • Target tree canopy plantings in underserved, least-shaded neighborhoods to reduce urban heat gain, encourage walking and cycling, and passively cool homes.

  • Push for a Levy for People, one that supports equitable access to clean water, clean air, clean energy, and city-wide pathways in addition to open spaces.

  • Explore building Participatory Budgeting into the budgeting process, engaging our residents in neighborhood-level environmental planning and the development of creative solutions to local concerns.

Learn more by visiting Lauren McLean’s website here.

Clean Water

Boise river

Lauren McLean has a detailed plan on how she will approach not only protecting the Boise River but ensuring we conserve our water supply and work towards improving residents’ water quality:

  • Empower City of Boise staff to continue leading an innovative systems approach to water quantity, reuse, and quality.

  • Implement water conservation methods in all city buildings, and propose water conservation and clean water policies for the City to adopt.

  • Ensure that we retain our water for our residents.

  • Incentivize the use of permeable pavement and bioswales (or “rain gardens”) in both new developments and existing infrastructure, channelling runoff water so that it can be filtered and absorbed back into the soil.

  • Continue the work of protecting and keeping the water of our treasured Boise River clean, from its headwaters through the heart of our city and beyond.

  • Build partnerships with organizations dedicated to improving stream banks, habitat and access along the river throughout our river system, and use existing levy funds to secure that access.

  • Address the fact that hundreds of Boiseans turn on their taps every day to find their water brown and rusty. As Mayor, she would immediately set about ensuring that all our residents’ water is clear, no matter their zip code.

Learn more by visiting Lauren McLean’s website here.

Clean Air

The transportation sector has become the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, responsible for nearly 30 percent of total emissions across the country. The Treasure Valley is 20 years behind on a transportation system. We need a new form of leadership that can ensure we expand options for public transportation – making it more accessible and affordable for all Boise residents. Here are Lauren McLean’s plans to expand regional transit and help improve Boise’s air quality.

  • Double the goal for reducing single person car trips: 20% by 2029. We know that the largest adverse impact on our air quality (currently 8th worst in the nation) is single person car trips, and most of those are between home and work. Urgent need requires bolder benchmarks.

  • Rebuild regional relationships to create consensus, build a regional vision and bargaining power.

  • Collaborate with Boise business leaders to be good partners in moving their workers and enhancing those workers’ quality of life.

  • Pledge to deliver an actionable plan for regional transit at the end of her first term, which will include two priority spines: reexploring connectivity by existing rail (or rail-adjacent alternatives) to Caldwell and trackless, electric trams on the State Street Corridor.

  • Keep Boise neighborhoods people-scaled and walkable, knowing that strong neighborhoods need housing at every price point and connectivity to amenities and transit.

Learn more by visiting Lauren McLean’s website here.

CVI staff and board pose for photo

It’s going to take all of us to elect a strong conservation champion to office. Volunteer for Lauren’s campaign today!

Voting is a team sport. We need to all pitch in to make sure our candidate gets elected to office. Consider volunteering a few hours of your time during the runoff election to help Lauren get out the vote.

Sign Up Here!