COEUR d’ALENE — Thousands of Kootenai County voters have requested absentee ballots ahead of the May 21 primary election and there’s still time to request one.

A total of 5,832 voters had requested absentee ballots by late Wednesday, while 1,519 voters had returned their completed ballots.

In 2022, a total of 7,228 voters in Kootenai County requested absentee ballots for the primary election, while 6,019 valid ballots were returned.

Kootenai County Clerk Jennifer Locke said the popularity of absentee voting has climbed since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. With “plenty of time left” to request an absentee ballot, she said ballot requests for the upcoming primary may exceed 2022’s total.

“I think people are familiar and like that process,” Locke said. “The numbers have definitely shot up since 2020.”

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is May 10 at 5 p.m. Ballots must be returned to the Kootenai County Elections Department by 8 p.m. Election Day.

“We always ask people, if they can, to try to return it and not wait until the last day,” Locke said.

She noted that Idaho’s Republican presidential caucus happened in March, while Democrats will caucus May 23, two days after the primary election. Ballots will only include local, county and state races.

“They won’t have the selection of party choices for the presidential candidates,” Locke said.

Early voting at the elections department will begin May 6 and continue through May 17.

To request an absentee ballot, visit www.voteidaho.gov.