Primary election polls open today

GOP, Constitution Party to vote on presidential candidates; Lakeland school levy proposed

Republican and Constitution Party voters will make their choice for their parties' nomination for president in today's primary election.

There will also be a non-partisan vote for a school supplemental levy proposal in the Lakeland Joint School District.

Democrats, meanwhile, will make their choice for their party's presidential nomination during a caucus on March 22 at North Idaho College's Schuler Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 6 p.m.

In today's primary, anyone — regardless of their current party affiliation — can vote as long as they are willing to sign a Republican affirmation form at the polls. Previously, only unaffiliated voters could change parties until the day of voting and all others would have had to switch parties in December 2015 to be eligible to vote in the GOP presidential primary.

The deadline for voters to change their party affiliation or become unaffiliated for the May 17 primary election featuring county and state races is Friday.

To change from one party to another today, the voter must complete the Idaho Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form to make the change.

For more information about today's election, including poll information, visit www.kcgov.us/elections or call the county elections office at 446-1030.

Meanwhile, Lakeland school patrons will vote on a non-partisan $5.3 million supplemental levy. It will replace an existing levy. The levy amount increases the current levy by $505,000.

Passage of the levy will allow the district to maintain neighborhood schools with the same grade-level alignment and course offerings, district officials said. It will also help offset decreases in federal funding that support special education and Title programs. A vote of 50 percent, plus one, is needed for the proposal to pass.

For the owner of a $150,000 home, the increase would amount to $12.33 per year, or $1.03 per month, over the current levy.

The increase would be used to improve school safety measures, including a hiring school resource officer in partnership with the city of Rathdrum and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, reinforce windows with safety film, enhance existing emergency response systems and improve student health and safety services, which includes athletic trainers for competitive high school sports.

For more information, visit www.lakeland272.org or call 697-0431.

The Democratic and Libertarian parties are not holding a presidential primary.

There will be free parking during the Democratic caucus on March 22 at NIC.

Any person who is a Democrat and a qualified voter of Kootenai County and who has not participated in any other presidential selection process, may participate in the caucus. The meeting is open to the public.

Local Democrats will send 37 delegates to the state convention June 16-18 in Boise.

Representatives of each sub-caucus will speak about their presidential candidates of choice before a final count will be taken. Candidates who get less than 15 percent support won't be assigned delegates.

The Idaho Democratic Party will send 24 delegates and two alternatives to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia July 25-28 to nominate the Democratic candidate for President.

For more information about the Democratic caucus, call Paula Neils, chair of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee, at 755-9590, email kootenaicountydemocrats@gmail.com or visit idahodems.org.