Won't be around for May 17 election day? Consider voting an absentee ballot

April 5, 2016

Not going to be around for the upcoming May 17 Idaho Statewide Primary Election? You might have a family vacation, a business trip, or a hunting excursion to Alaska coming up. Or you may be living away from Boundary County for school, work, or other temporary absence. If you will be away from your home in Boundary County for any reason on the day of the vote, or if you just can't make it to the polls that day, you can still exercise your voting privilege, right, and responsibility. You can vote via Absentee Ballot. At the last General Election of November 2014, around 800 Boundary County residents voted by absentee ballot, making up approximately 23% of all votes cast in the County for that election. And you won't want to miss the upcoming May 17 election. The Presidential Primaries for Idaho Democrats, Republicans, and the Constitution Party have all been completed. Next up, the May 17 Primary will provide the opportunity to vote on the candidates you want to run in the General Election coming up in November. The May 17 election includes voting for Idaho Statewide offices, such as U.S. Senator and Representatives to Congress, a Supreme Court Justice, and Idaho State legislators. But that's not all, the May 17 election will also provide the opportunity for voters to select candidates for local Boundary County offices, including who will run in the November election for County Commissioner, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, and local party precinct committeemen / women. In Idaho, any registered voter may request an absentee ballot. The request can be made in person at the office of the County Clerk (in the Boundary County Courthouse) on Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. till 4:45 p.m., or a request can be filled out and submitted to the County Clerk by mail. The form to request an absentee ballot can be obtained online by clicking here. Applications for an absentee ballot can be returned to the County Clerk's office in person, or can be mailed in. If a voter is living outside the county, and wishes to receive an absentee ballot, they should submit their application for an absentee ballot allowing ample mail time prior to the election. Those voting with absentee ballots must get their ballots in to the County Clerk's office, whether in person or by mail, by 8:00 p.m. on election day. "A person can also walk into the County Clerk's office and vote an absentee ballot prior to the election," said Boundary County Clerk Glenda Poston. Absentee ballots that are voted and received before the election are held and counted on election night along with all other ballots cast in the county. So, all of you Boundary County • College students • People working in North Dakota or elsewhere • World travelers • Temporary expatriates • Or if you just can't make it to the polls on election day . . . Consider an absentee ballot.