Election office headaches continue

It was about 3 p.m. Thursday when Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon received a call from Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Josh Gilmore.

Gilmore was contacting Brannon about a group passing out sample Republican ballots outside the Third Street elections office. Brannon already knew about them, and he also knew there was nothing he could do.

After an opinion Tuesday by the Idaho Attorney General's Office determined Kootenai County's previous restrictions on electioneering were borderline unconstitutional, Brannon said there's been noticeably more political activity at the early voting facility on Third Street.

That's not the office's only concern. Early last week, an office employee tested positive for COVID-19, Brannon said, prompting some judges and poll workers to pull out of election day operations. Fortunately, Brannon said, no one else has quit, but all that could change before Tuesday.

"If something were to happen between now and election day, I don't know what we would do," Brannon said Thursday. "We can't run without the election office."

The potential loss of poll workers or another case of COVID-19 would be detrimental, he said. The worst-case scenario would be closing precincts the morning of election day. Still, Brannon is hoping that with the aid of temporary Kootenai County and Secretary of State staff, that won't happen.

"If we get notified that the precinct can't be used for some reason, of course, that is not desirable, but I am aware we have to think on the fly," Brannon said. "I'm just hoping that everything goes OK."

It's not only the office's singular case he's afraid of but also the rising number of cases in Kootenai County. Brannon said the polling locations will abide by city rules. Coeur d'Alene polling places will have mask mandates per city regulations, and if other municipalities follow suit, the office will, too.

All polling places will be equipped with personal protective equipment, he said, with hand sanitizer, masks, cleaning equipment and social distancing measures. However, it will be up to voters to maintain proper safety provisions.

"I cannot require a mask for someone to vote, so if they show up to vote, they're going to be able to," Brannon said. "I suspect that can cause some issues, and I think our polling places are not going to be exceptionally calm this election."

To protect the peace, the elections office has contacted the Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Spirit Lake police departments, and Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, to have law enforcement at the polls. Brannon's newest concern, electioneering near and inside of polling places, has already begun around the Third Street facility, he said.

"Today, in my parking lot, I have people passing out Republican sample ballots. Where do I draw the line? Where is the line now?" Brannon said. "I do think that election day is going to be more difficult than I anticipated, and I think it's because people are going to push the envelope about electioneering, so thank you very much, Adams County."

Elections office employees intend to start counting ballots at noon on Nov. 3 and report final results early the next morning. As of Thursday at 3 p.m. Kootenai County had over 103,360 registered voters, 7,732 early votes, and 34,193 absentee ballots returned. The deadline for early voting is today at 5 p.m., and all voters with absentee ballots must ensure they're at the elections office by 8 p.m. Tuesday.