Don't wait to register

In the 2012 Presidential election, 8,411 Kootenai County residents registered or re-registered on Election Day.

Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon said the county elections staff is doing outreach now, to help voters plan ahead.

“We want to create the best customer service and reduce wait times at the polls on Nov. 8,” Brannon said Wednesday.

New residents need to register, and so do voters who have moved to a new address within the county. Plans to assist are already in motion, and voter registration forms have been supplied to:

• Larger city halls which are staffed Monday through Friday

• Both Department of Motor Vehicles locations

• All Chambers of Commerce

• Larger libraries

• Larger retirement, nursing and assisted living homes

Voter registration cards are also available at the Elections office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, and online at www.idahovotes.gov.

People who change their names need to re-register to vote, so an informational flyer will be given out by the recorder’s staff when they issue marriage licenses. Other clerk departments will also have voter registration information available for their customers.

“We’re still brainstorming other actions, and will be notifying the public of these in coming weeks,” said Elections Manager Carrie Phillips.