Bonner County breaking absentee voting record

SANDPOINT — Bonner County has set a new record for absentee voting.

County Clerk Marie Scott said her office has already issued more than 3,200 absentee ballots, eclipsing a record that was set during the 2004 general election, when about 2,900 such ballots were distributed.

"We still have two and a half weeks to go," Scott said on Friday.

The clerk's office is also girding itself for an unprecedented turnout at the polls, which Scott attributes to the spirited, history-making presidential race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

Bonner County's voter turnout record of 81 percent was set during the 1992 race. Voter turnout in the last presidential election was 78 percent.

"We've also registered a thousand new registrants since the primary," said Scott.

Lest anyone be concerned about the source of those registrations, Scott points out that they're not of the ACORN variety. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has fallen under scrutiny from the FBI for alleged voter fraud in several states.

Scott said ACORN is a non-issue in Idaho because election officials require voters to present photo identification and proof of residency in order to register.

Idaho relaxed its absentee voting rules some years ago. Before that time, Idaho voters had to be away from the county in order to cast an absentee ballot, Scott said.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot via mail is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29. After that, voters must present themselves at the clerk's office and request one. Such ballots must be voted on before leaving the office.

Voters have until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 — the day of the general election — to return their ballots to the clerk's office. Absentee ballots cannot be turned in to voting precincts. If they are, the ballots will not be counted.

The deadline to register to vote at the clerk's office has passed, although residents can register at their polling location on the day of the election.

Additional election information, including absentee ballot request forms can be found on the Elections page of the clerk's Web site (www.co.bonner.id.us) and at www.idahovotes.gov.