Absentee ballots are available

SANDPOINT — Absentee ballots for the Nov. 7 general election are available at the Bonner County Clerk's Office.

The clerk's office, located in the ground floor of the courthouse, is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ballots must be returned to the clerk's office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Idaho law forbids precinct workers from accepting absentee ballots at polling places. Such ballots are marked "spoiled" and not counted.

Absentee ballots are also available by mail by sending a request to the clerk's office. Every request for an absentee ballot must be dated and signed by each person making the request.

Written requests for absentee ballots also must include a voter's residence location within the county. Post Office box numbers do not qualify as residence locations, though absentee ballots can be mailed to P.O. boxes.

Printable absentee ballot request forms can be found by clicking on the "Elections" button on the county's Web site (www.co.bonner.id.us).

The last day the clerk can honor a request to mail an absentee ballot is Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Those who miss that cutoff date can obtain an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office. However, those ballots must be filled out on the spot because Idaho Code does not allow them to be taken off the premises. One person cannot request an absentee ballot for another.

The deadline to register for the general election is Friday, Oct. 13. Printable voter registration cards are also available on the county's Internet site. They must be returned to the courthouse by Oct. 13 and accompanied by a photocopy of a photo ID card.

Those who miss the Oct. 13 deadline can register on the day of the election, too.

? The mailing address for the clerk's office is 215 South First Ave., Sandpoint, ID. 83864. Be sure to specify what address you want your ballot mailed to.