Absentee voting now under way

COEUR d'ALENE - Voting by absentee ballot remains a popular choice in Kootenai County.

Friday, the county mailed out 4,885 absentee ballots. Many like the convenience of voting absentee, instead of waiting for election day.

The number of Kootenai County registered voters is up about 10 percent over the 2008 election.

The basics of voting absentee:

- The County Elections Office is the absentee polling place for federal, state, county and local taxing district elections. You may vote in person about three weeks prior to an election. Absentee voting closes the Friday before an election.

- To vote by mail the application for an absentee ballot must be signed by the elector and include the physical address and mailing address if different. The latest date to request a ballot by mail is six days prior to the election. Absentee requests must be done on an annual basis as they are only good for one calendar year at a time.

- Requests for mailed absentee ballots are available at the county's website: www.kcgov.us/elections/AbsenteeBallotApplication.pdf

The Kootenai County Election Office is at 1808 N. Third St.

Info: 446-1030