The Kootenai County commissioners voted 2-0 on Tuesday to accept a new voter precinct map that will take effect next month.

The map of 70 precincts, fitting into the boundaries of the recently revised legislative districts, will not be official until March 23, after next month's school district levy elections are canvassed.

Commissioner Dan Green said the resolution is consistent with the commissioners' hopes of providing preliminary precinct boundaries for those declaring candidacy in upcoming weeks.

"It's in the spirit of what we're trying to accomplish," Green said. "What we're really trying to do is give the public and the Elections Department some early direction."

Commissioner Todd Tondee also voted in support. Commissioner Jai Nelson was excused from the officials' weekly business meeting due to family matters.

Elections Manager Carrie Phillips, who didn't attend the meeting, said that delaying the adoption of the new precincts removes the pressure for her department to update precinct data in time for the next election.

"It enables us to focus on the March election, and then be able to make changes for May," Phillips said, referring to the May primary.

The new precinct map is nearly identical to the one the commissioners approved last month, which was nullified when the Idaho Supreme Court ordered the legislative redistricting map to be revised.

The Elections Department will be able to update the data by March 30, Phillips noted, when the first primary ballots are mailed out.

"We were grateful for the flexibility of this, considering the changes that need to be made," she said.