KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Voters in Kootenai County are turning out in large numbers ahead of the November midterm elections. More than 20,000 residents have already cast their ballots, the Kootenai County Elections Office says that’s about 18% of the registered voters in the county.
The Kootenai County Elections Office reports that about 7,500 people have cast early ballots. That total is roughly 40% higher than the number of early votes in the 2022 midterm election. The office anticipates early voting could climb to about 11,000 ballots, which would double the number of early votes cast four years ago. In addition, about 13,000 residents have already submitted absentee ballots.
Two high-profile ballot measures are driving much of the interest. Proposition One would create a right to reproductive freedom in Idaho, allowing abortions up to the point of fetal viability, except in medical emergencies.
House Joint Resolution 4 would give the Idaho Legislature sole authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances. If voters approve it, people would lose the ability to initiate state statutes that would legalize those substances through citizen initiatives.
Early voting in Kootenai County runs through Friday, October 30. Residents who want to vote early must do so in person at the Kootenai County Elections Office.
Voters who do not cast an early ballot must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day. To find their polling location, residents can visit this website.
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