Voting early, often

The general election is off to a running start with voting interest.

Carrie Phillips, Kootenai County's elections supervisor, said about 9,500 absentee ballots have been mailed out since Oct. 12 to voters who have requested them.

"That is a high number, and I think it's a good indication of how things will be (on Nov. 2)," Phillips said. "The state is estimating a 60 percent voter turnout, and I think our county will be right at that mark or close to it."

Several interesting races, including for county commission, clerk and coroner, North Idaho College board and legislative districts, are on the ballot and sparking interest, Phillips said.

The absentee request number is already higher than the entire 2006 general election, another non-presidential election, when 8,487 absentee ballots were mailed and voter turnout was 58 percent.

Kootenai County's turnout in May's primary was a dismal 23 percent. There were 3,737 absentee ballots mailed for that election. However, voting during primaries typically is much lower than during the general election.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Wednesday. That can be done by stopping at the county elections office at 1808 N. Third in Coeur d'Alene or visiting www.kcgov.us/elections/.

"We're still mailing out about 450 per day," Phillips said.

As of Wednesday, 4,447 absentee ballots had been returned.

Absentee voting, billed by elections officials as a way to avoid the Election Day rush, is also being held at the county elections office and city halls in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during week days this week and all of next.

Polls will also be open this Saturday at the county elections office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be no absentee voting on Monday, Nov. 1, as in previous years.

Also new this year, all voters, even if they're already registered, must show identification such as an Idaho driver's license, U.S. passport, federal identification card, tribal photo ID card or current student photo issued by an Idaho high school or college, prior to voting.

"People have been really good about showing their ID," said Carol Fairhurst, Post Falls city clerk. "They are just glad to be able to vote early because of the flexibility."

Phillips said an average of about 100 people have been voting in person per day at the county and 1,000 total so far. Fairhurst reports about 35 voters per day at Post Falls. The numbers have been similar at the other satellite polls, Phillips said.

People can register to vote at the absentee polls. They must show identification and proof that they've lived in the county for at least 30 days through a utility bill, car registration or phone bill.

Phillips said some people have been concerned that their absentee votes may not be counted as they've heard that's the case in some other states, but she squelched that rumor in Idaho.

"Your absentee vote will be counted," she said. "We count them first."