Early voting under way in county

SANDPOINT — As in the rest of the state, early voting is underway in Bonner County.

And, if early indications hold true, it looks to be a strong turnout in Bonner County, local Elections officials indicate.

Since early voting opened Oct. 21, Bonner County Clerk Mike Rosedale said the county has seen more than 500 people a day show up at the Elections office to either vote early or drop off an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballot requests closed Friday, Oct. 25. However, residents have the option to vote early and, in Bonner County, can do so at the Bonner County Administration Building, 1502 U.S. 2, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. by Friday, Nov. 1.

The county received more than 6,000 absentee ballot requests and just under 2,500 residents electing to vote early.

"We're probably seeing 500 people a day," Rosedale said.

On Election Day, polling locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bonner County officials said the county is nearing record levels for both absentee ballots and early voting, notwithstanding during COVID when the 2020 primary election was conducted via mail.

In addition to large numbers of absentee ballot requests, there has been a strong turnout of early voters, Rosedale and Tere Schultz, Bonner County Elections manager, said.

The turnout is attributed to both new residents and new voters, Schultz said.

While neither Schultz nor Rosedale had an estimate of how many people registered to vote for the first time in Bonner  County prior to the deadline but said it was significant. If residents have not yet registered to vote they can do so at the polls on Election Day.

A logic and accuracy test, which is open to the public, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the county Elections Office at the Bonner County Administration Building, 1502 U.S. 2, Sandpoint

Voting information, including a Voter Guide on issues on the Nov. 5 ballot, registration, where to vote and polling can be found online at VoteIdaho.gov.

Any eligible resident of a county can vote at any early voting location within that county. If you are not registered to vote, you can register and vote at early voting by bringing an accepted form of photo ID and proof of residence.

“Early voting offers Idahoans the flexibility to vote on their own schedule, making it easy for voters to participate in this important election. Whether you choose to vote early, by absentee, or on Election Day, make sure your voice is heard on Nov. 5,” said Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.

Bonner County officials' advice to voters?

"If you are holding an absentee ballot, get it in the mail ASAP," Schultz said. "Or drop it off. If we receive it after 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, we can’t count it."

Information: voteidaho.gov