Thousands have already voted

COEUR d'ALENE - Voters haven't been lazy this election season.

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 election have been inundating the Kootenai County Elections Office, with 8,900 in-person and mailed-in ballots submitted so far, the county clerk announced on Wednesday.

"We're now averaging over 200 a day for walk-in voters," clerk Cliff Hayes said.

Roughly 12 percent of the county's registered voters had cast early ballots as of Wednesday, already about half of the total turnout usually seen at city elections, Hayes confirmed.

He noted that 297 people voted in-person in a single day this week, the highest so far during this election cycle.

It's nothing the county can't handle, Hayes assured.

"It was extremely busy the first couple of days, because we had to get out (mailed ballots) to everyone who had requested one over the last six months," Hayes said. "Now it's settled down a little bit. We're very busy, but not overwhelmed."

Elections Supervisor Carrie Phillips was involved with poll worker training all day Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

In-person absentee voting kicked off Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Hayes partially attributed the popularity of early voting to the county's efforts to expedite absentee voting. Voters can apply online for a mailed absentee ballot, and the county has recently started paying for stamps for the return envelopes of mailed ballots.

Presidential elections always see large turnouts, Hayes added.

"For true presidential elections, we run up toward 80 percent," he said.

He lauded those who choose to cast absentee votes.

"It makes it easier on the polling places, and for all the voters, because we don't have any lines," Hayes said.

The county still counts all the ballots, including absentee, after the polls close at 8 p.m. on election day, Hayes said.

There's still time to vote absentee. The deadline for the Elections Office to receive absentee ballot request forms is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Request forms are available at the Elections Office at 1808 N. Third St. in Coeur d'Alene, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The form is also available online at: www.kcgov.us/elections/AbsenteeBallotApplication.pdf.

Friday, Nov. 2 is the last day for in-person absentee voting at the Elections Office. The office will also be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 for in-person absentee voting.

County residents can register to vote before casting an absentee ballot at the Elections Office.

Voters can register and vote at the polls on Nov. 6, with proof of 30-day county residency and photo ID required.

If a voter is registered, a personal identification affidavit can be signed in lieu of showing ID.

Hayes encouraged all to cast a ballot.

"The election process is the most important of all things the county, the state and the federal government does," Hayes said. "It would be nice to see a turnout."