League of Women Voters candidate info due by Saturday

The League of Women Voters of Kootenai County is asking all candidates for the May 21 election to submit information, free of charge, in their own words, with their own photos, to www.Vote411.org public online voter guide.

Candidates are requested to respond by Saturday.

Candidates must provide their email addresses to League volunteer BeckyHarro@gmail.com.  

This election season will include races for national and state representatives and senators, plus all state representatives and senators, judicial positions, any referendum or taxing proposals, as well as local races. Primary elections are typically a low turnout election cycle, the League of Women Voters of Kootenai County said in a Tuesday news release. However, this year spring elections are further impacted because the presidential races are decided by caucuses. The Republican was March 2 and Democratic will be May 23.

Elected positions on the local ballots include: Representative in Congress — First District (U.S House of Representatives; one Idaho State Senate seat in each legislative district (2, 3, 4, 5); two Idaho state representative seats in each legislative district (2, 3, 4, 5); county sheriff (note: Independent candidates will not be listed on primary ballots per county clerk); and Kootenai County commissioner — District 1 (2-year term) and 2 (four-year term). The Kootenai County prosecuting attorney, a non-contested race, will not appear on ballot.

Where applicable, all non-partisan offices and ballot questions will also appear on each partisan ballot, such as judicial offices and ballot questions. Make sure to know about candidate choices or precinct committeeman positions.

Unlike most primary races that will repeat in the general election, the May 21 ballot is the only chance to vote for precinct committeemen.

Lisa Schaff of LWVKC said the precinct committeeman elected position is one that deserves attention as it is the grassroots base for a party structure that ultimately determines which candidates will be financially supported and endorsed. 

"This position also has a role in local non-partisan races because party central committees determine who to endorse for local positions such as Community Library Network trustees and North Idaho College board of trustee members," Schaff said in the news release. "In this race, many of the 70 precinct committeeman party seats are being challenged."

In most years, the majority of these seats are non-contested and therefore not on the ballot, she said.

"Our local League is asking that even non-contested Kootenai County precinct committeeman race candidates utilize the Vote411.org platform to present themselves to the voters," Schaff said. "Vote411.org usually only shows contested races as only contested races will appear on a ballot.”

Those interested in getting involved in politics after the election can attend central committee meetings to request a precinct committeeman appointment, per Idaho Code. Find the district/precinct references on kcgov.us.

Voters can go to the county as the primary source of voter information, then cross reference to Vote411.org to see what the candidates are sharing with voters.  

Go to kcgov.us to register to vote and/or request absentee ballots online. 

The Kootenai County Election schedule is as follows:  

• First absentee ballots were mailed April 5. Check your voter records and confirm if absentee ballots were counted at idahovotes.gov.

• Open voter registration closes at 5 p.m. April 26 at the clerk’s office or midnight online.

• After the close of registration, register and vote on the same day at the elections office during early voting, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6-17, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d'Alene.

• The last day to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. May 10 at the elections office. The deadline to return absentee ballots is 5 p.m. May 21, also at the elections office.

• Regular in-person voting at neighborhood polling places will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 21. Registration is permitted at polling places on Election Day as well as at the elections office during early voting. Proper photo identification and/or dated proof of residence is required.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization encouraging active participation in government through informed voting.