Idaho voter turnout soars ahead of Nov. 5

COEUR d’ALENE — As the number of early and absentee ballots cast for the Nov. 5 general election surpasses the total ballots cast statewide in the May primary election, voter turnout in Kootenai County is already breaking records. 

A total of 293,443 ballots were cast throughout Idaho as of Wednesday morning, according to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, compared to 281,777 ballots cast statewide in May. Of the general election ballots cast so far, 155,113 are from early voting and 138,330 are absentee. 

In Kootenai County, a total of 24,547 residents requested absentee ballots and 18,448 of those ballots had been returned as of Tuesday night. That’s a return rate of about 75%, on par with the statewide return rate. 

“We’re doing really well on that,” Kootenai County Clerk Jennifer Locke said Wednesday. 

Early voting numbers are also high, with 15,173 Kootenai County residents casting their ballots as of Tuesday evening. The turnout is breaking records, with more than 1,400 people voting early each day last week and more than 1,500 doing so Monday and Tuesday. 

Locke said she expects more than 19,000 people to vote early in Kootenai County by the end of Friday, when the early voting period closes. 

“It’s definitely over anything we’ve done,” she said. “It’s a tremendous turnout for early voting.” 

Kootenai County election officials say they expect a total turnout between 85% and 90%. 

Locke anticipates more than 90,000 of Kootenai County’s 113,000-plus voters to participate in this election, while elections manager Asa Gray thinks the number of participating voters could rise as high as 100,000. The percentages could shift a bit, Locke said, depending on how many new voters register at the polls on Election Day. 

“It’s Kootenai County,” Locke said. “We have one of the highest turnouts in the state. I have a feeling we’ll beat Ada, percentage-wise, and even Canyon, but we’ll see.” 

Shoshone County is also seeing increased voter turnout ahead of the general election. As of Wednesday morning, 1,133 early and absentee ballots were cast. A total of 1,688 ballots were cast in the May primary election. 

These numbers are “significantly higher than the historical usual,” according to the Shoshone County elections office. 

Early voting for the general election ends Friday. Locke noted that anyone who is in line to vote when the polls close Friday will be able to vote; the same is true on Election Day. 

Voters who requested absentee ballots should return them to their county elections office or use an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 5. 

On Election Day, polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time for in-person voting. Residents can register to vote at the polls. To register to vote in person, voters will need a current photo ID and proof of residence.