Absentee ballot request deadline Friday

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff

With fewer than two weeks until Election Day, the deadline to request an absentee ballot — Friday, Oct. 23 — marks every Idaho voter’s last chance to vote from home.

To request an absentee ballot online, head to idahovotes.gov and fill out the digital request form before midnight on Oct. 23. Voters must have their Idaho driver’s license or identification card and the last four digits of their Social Security number to complete the request online.

Voters can also download the request form, fill it out and take it to the Bonner County Elections office, located in suite 124 in the Bonner County administration building 1500 Highway 2 in Sandpoint. All paper requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

Unlike the May primary, which was conducted entirely via mail due to the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the November election features in-person voting both early and on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Early voting is currently happening on the first floor of the Bonner County Administration Building Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 30. There is no in-person early voting the Monday before Election Day.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, all regular polling places around Bonner County will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Those who have already submitted their filled-out ballot can check whether their vote has been counted by visiting idahovotes.gov and selecting “Check Your Voter Record.”

Anyone with questions can reach Bonner County Elections officials at 208-255-3631.