It’s Election Day, North Idaho.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. New voters can register at the polls; they’ll need a current photo ID and proof of residence.

Every Kootenai County voter has a contested nonpartisan judicial race to vote for. But whether they have the opportunity to vote in contested partisan primary races for county, statewide and federal office depends on their party affiliation. 

Also appearing on the ballot are levies for the Lakeland Joint School District and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. 

Voters who are unsure where to vote can use the “Where do I vote?” tool on voteidaho.gov. They can also view a sample ballot. 

“We’re really encouraging folks to take a look at those sample ballots, especially if they’re not used to voting in a primary election,” said Elections Manager Asa Gray. “Your party affiliation does affect your options.” 

Idaho law allows political parties to determine for themselves who may participate in their primaries. As a result, some parties have closed their primaries to voters who are registered with other parties or not affiliated with any party. 

Unaffiliated voters who wish to remain unaffiliated can choose a nonpartisan ballot, which will include only judicial races and any ballot questions relevant to the voter’s residence, or a Democratic primary ballot. 

Unaffiliated voters who want to vote in the Republican or Libertarian primary elections must affiliate with one of those parties and can do so at the polls. 

Voters from across the county turned out to vote early. 

“We hit it out of the park for early voting,” said Kootenai County Clerk Jennifer Locke. 

A total of 3,617 voters cast their ballots during the two-week early voting period. 

“We’re really happy to see that turnout,” Gray said. “Those are higher early voting turnouts than both of the last primary elections in 2022 and 2024.” 

Gray said the drivers behind the early voting turnout include a growing base of registered voters in Kootenai County, as well as voters who had positive and convenient early voting experiences in other recent elections. 

“There was also a lot of information out there from the media, candidates and different groups that mentioned early voting as an option,” he said. 

Elections staff estimate that between 30% and 40% of Kootenai County’s registered voters will turn out for the primary election, with about 10% of that turnout coming from absentee and early voting. 

It’s too late to mail completed absentee ballots because any ballots received after 8 p.m. today won’t be counted. 

Until 8 p.m., completed absentee ballots can be hand-delivered to the elections office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. 

Alternatively, voters who requested but have not yet returned their absentee ballots can go to their polling place and tell a poll worker they want to surrender their absentee ballot and vote in person instead. 

Contested races in Kootenai County: 

Kootenai County Commissioner District 1 (Republican): John Padula, Julie Hensley 

Kootenai County Commissioner District 1 (Republican): Bruce Mattare, Steve Em 

Kootenai County Assessor (Republican): Bela Kovacs, Allyson Knapp 

Kootenai County Treasurer (Republican): Teresa Mallery, Carlos Zamora 

Kootenai County Clerk (Republican): Jennifer Locke, John Samuelson 

District Judge (nonpartisan): Ben Allen, Lisa Chesebro 

Idaho House of Representatives, District 3A (Republican): Vito Barbieri, Eric Seeley 

Idaho House of Representatives, District 4B (Republican): Elaine Price, Christa Hazel 

      

   Jennifer Locke