Primary election voter deadlines coming up
COEUR d'ALENE — With Idaho’s primary election just a week away, some important voter deadlines are on the horizon.
Voters wishing to vote early in-person in the May 17 primary must do so by Friday, May 13, at 5 p.m. and the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Wednesday, May 11, by 5 p.m.
A voter’s party affiliation, or non-affiliation, will determine which ballot he or she receives whether voting early in-person, absentee or on election day.
“Basically, the unaffiliated voters have the most options for voting,” county elections manager Carrie Phillips wrote in a message to The Press.
The purpose of primary elections in Idaho is to allow members of a recognized political party to select that party’s nominees to go on the general election ballot in November.
Idaho has four recognized parties with which voters may affiliate: Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian and Republican. Voters can also remain unaffiliated.
For the May 17 election, the Constitution primary and the Republican primary are closed. That means only voters affiliated with each of those parties can vote on those ballots.
To vote in one of the closed primaries, an unaffiliated voter can affiliate before the election by filling out a party affiliation form available at the County Elections Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, or online at www.kcgov.us/elections/forms.asp.
On election day, an unaffiliated voter can vote in a closed primary by affiliating with a party in the Poll Book at the polls.
A voter already affiliated with a party cannot change that affiliation until after May 17. The last day to change party affiliation in Idaho was March 11.
The Democratic Primary is open. That means any voter, affiliated with any party or unaffiliated, may choose to receive a Democratic ballot.
All party ballots include the nonpartisan candidates, judges in this election, and ballot questions — a Consolidate Free Library levy question and a bond question for Kootenai Water District No. 1 — which are also on a separate nonpartisan ballot. The nonpartisan ballot does not include candidates from any party. Any voter, regardless of affiliation, may choose to receive the nonpartisan ballot only.
Registered voters unsure of their affiliation status can find out where they stand by contacting the Kootenai County Elections Office at (208) 446-1030 or by email to kcelections@kcgov.us.
Voters can also check their registration and affiliation status by visiting the Idaho Votes website, http://bit.ly/1iIOC9H.
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Final week for early in-person voting
Vote early in-person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by Friday, May 13, at the county elections office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene.
To cast a ballot, registered voters should bring photo identification with them or they may sign a Personal Identity Affidavit instead.
New registrants, or voters who have moved or changed names, must re-register. They must bring photo ID and proof of residency such as a utility bill or auto insurance certificate with the voter’s current residence address listed and dated at least 30 days prior to their voting date.
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To receive an absentee ballot by mail
Voters who want an absentee ballot mailed to them for this election must submit their requests by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Voters can visit http://www.kcgov.us/elections/ to download the Absentee Ballot Request form. The form can be returned to the elections office by mail, fax or email. Kootenai County is paying the postage for mailed absentee ballots.
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To vote on election day, all voters must go to their designated polling places.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who have questions, including about their proof of residency documents or designated polling places, should call the elections office at 446-1030 or contact the office by email at kcelections@kcgov.us.