Absentee Minded
<p>Cathy Hurrell, left, and Barbara Lovett prepare supply boxes Friday at the Kootenai County Elections office in Coeur d'Alene. The boxes will be dispersed to the various polling places throughout the county.</p>
<p>A crowd gathers under the American Flag at Independence Point on Friday.</p>
Just average. That's how absentee voting has looked so far for Tuesday's primary election, said Carrie Phillips, Kootenai County elections supervisor. "It's picked up the last couple of days, but our turnout is not as much as we would like it to be," Phillips said on Friday.
Just average.
That's how absentee voting has looked so far for Tuesday's primary election, said Carrie Phillips, Kootenai County elections supervisor.
"It's picked up the last couple of days, but our turnout is not as much as we would like it to be," Phillips said on Friday.
By the end of last week, about 2,200 of the 3,400 absentee ballots mailed out had been filled out and returned, she said. Roughly 600 have voted absentee in person.
Phillips predicted that voter turnout for the primary election, which will determine the general election candidates for numerous county and state government positions, as well as various justices and federal legislators, will hover around 26 percent.
"It's always been the trend that turnouts are not as high (at primary elections)," she said. "A lot of people only vote in the general election."
The Elections Department was bustling last week to prepare for the big day, Phillips said, by preparing supply boxes for polling stations, gathering poll books and fielding questions from voters.
"It's a lot more than you imagine on the surface," said Phillips, who will be running her first election on Tuesday since taking over as elections supervisor late last year, when her predecessor Deedie Beard retired.
But Phillips said she isn't worried, after working for the past eight years in the county Recorder's Office.
"It is a requirement that you work election night, so I've worked election nights for the last eight years," said Phillips. "I'm feeling good about it (supervising the primary). I'm confident in our process, and confident in our counting machines and the whole setup."
She still hopes voters will surprise her on election day, she added.
"I'd like it (turnout) to be 30 percent or higher," she said.
Even with the Tuesday primary around the corner, there are plenty of opportunities to register and vote, Phillips said.
"The race is within the parties, so it's important to vote so your candidate makes it to the general," she said.
Locals can still register and vote absentee on Monday at the county Elections Office at 1808 N. 3rd St., she said, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To register, individuals need to provide a photo ID and proof that they have resided in the area for 30 days, like a utility bill, bank statement or vehicle registration.
Residents can register the day of the election, too, Phillips said, at any polling location.
Folks can find the polling site nearest them by typing their address on the county Web site at: http://www.co.kootenai.id.us/elections/search/.
Voters can also cast their ballots at the county Elections Building on election day.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters can fill out only one of two ballots - one listing the Republican candidates, the other Democrat candidates.
For more information, call the Elections Office at: 446-1030.