Late Friday afternoon, the Elmore County Clerk’s Office in southwest Idaho, notified the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office of a potential discrepancy between the number of ballots cast and the number of voters who voted in the November 4, 2025 Elmore County Consolidated Election. After further review and consultation on Monday morning, it was determined that approximately 300 ballots cast were not tallied or included in the final results.
“Needless to say, this situation is very concerning,” said Secretary of State Phil McGrane. “We are taking this matter seriously and will pursue every available path to ensure the will of the voters is accurately reflected in the results. Every vote matters, and we are committed to the accuracy and integrity of Idaho’s elections.”
The Secretary of State’s Office is working closely with the Elmore County Clerk and is sending its elections team to Elmore County on Tuesday morning to determine the scope of the issue. The Office is also working with the Elmore County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office to ensure the final outcome is in compliance with Idaho law. While undergoing this process, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office is taking custody of and securing all ballots.
“We take great pride in conducting accurate elections and are committed to ensuring every vote is counted,” said Elmore Clerk Shelley Essl. “This discrepancy does not meet or reflect our standards, and we will work with the candidates, the Secretary of State’s Office, and all others involved so that voters can have confidence in the final outcome.”
This is a developing situation, and the Secretary of State’s Office will provide updates as additional information becomes available and next steps are determined.
