OPINION: The cure for absentee ballot confusion: Vote

These days, everyday Idahoans have a lot on their minds. The neon price lights at gas stations shock the pocketbook. But voters have more on their minds than just the cost of living. They say they worry about government corruption, data centers, nuclear waste dumps, and U.S. conflicts with other countries (even Canada!).

Voting for better leadership is the only way out of this mess. Yet, the Trump Administration's meddling is creating confusion about the safety and reliability of absentee, or mail-in, voting. 

President Trump ordered the US Postal Service to impose additional requirements on mail-in ballots. This arbitrary requirement would disenfranchise millions of voters. A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked implementation of portions of that rule, and the administration appealed. 

A legal battle over the Presidents proposed new federal rules affecting mail-in ballots worked its way through the courts.

On Monday of this week, after some states had already begun sending out ballots, the Supreme Court rejected the new rule.

The USPS lacks the authority to alter voting procedures. State governments, not the federal government, administer elections.

Yet uncertainty confuses voters. And confused voters tend to not vote. In all probability voter suppression is the President’s intent.

Idaho’s official election website, (VoteIdaho.gov) makes clear that any registered Idaho voter may request an absentee ballot for any reason. Through this website, voters can check whether their ballot has been mailed to them, and whether their completed ballot has been received by their county election office. 

A Kootenai County Elections official confirmed this for me. He said “Our office will not be changing procedures or sharing voter information beyond what is already publicly available. We remain in close contact with the Secretary of State, and we are committed to every voter who has requested an absentee ballot. Our processes have not changed.”

The Arizona Secretary of State told the Associated Press: “it is crucial for us to continue rejecting the notion that access and security are mutually exclusive when it comes to running strong elections.”

That is reassuring, and yet some voters remain concerned. One voter told me:

“The President owns the Post Office. If he tells Idaho not to handle mail-in ballots, they won't get delivered and those votes won't count. The wheels of justice turn too slowly for this to be fixed by the courts before Election Day.”

Other voters may share that fear.

There is nothing new about efforts to frighten people away from voting. Over the years, Idaho voters have heard claims about noncitizens voting, ballot drop boxes being vulnerable to tampering, and various forms of voter fraud. Nonsense.

It is important to ignore fear-baiting claims, and pay attention to the actual procedures established by Idaho election officials.

The best way to deal with this uncertainty is to make a plan to vote. And then implement it.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting will be available from October 13 through October 30. You have until 5 p.m. on October 23 to request an absentee ballot. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

There are several good reasons to vote early or by mail.

You might have to work all day on November 3 and not be able to get to your polling place before it closes.

Voting early also gives you more time to read and research the candidates and the measures on your ballot.

Voters who vote early can even change their minds. If you request an absentee ballot but later decide you would rather vote in person, Idaho's Secretary of State says you can bring your absentee ballot with you to early voting or to your polling place on Election Day. A poll worker will spoil the absentee ballot and issue you a new ballot to vote in person. 

The take home lesson is simple: make and implement a plan to vote.

Still have questions? Visit VoteIdaho.gov. Check your registration. Look at your sample ballot. Decide whether you want to vote early, by absentee ballot, or in person on Election Day.

Do it now.

And remember: whatever you may hear about voting, check the facts, make your own decision, and participate.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.