Voters Get Say Today Town Council Candidates, Local Issues On Idaho Ballots

Hands on hips, the election worker eyeballed the voting booth she’d just set up.

“We don’t have any curtains?” she asked another worker.

“For three X’s, you need curtains?” said the second woman. “For goodness sake, they’re not electing a president.”

Election workers on Monday unfolded tables, set up chairs, hung signs and otherwise braced themselves for today’s municipal elections. Dozens of city council members and mayors are up for election this year. In Hayden, voters will be marking their X’s for mayor and two City Council seats.

Some voters will also decide local issues firsthand. In Rose Lake, they’ll decide whether to join a nearby fire district, which is offering to set up a fire station there. In Wardner, city officials are seeking approval of a bond to lower too-tall Main Street, which now dumps rainwater into people’s yards.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where - or if - you vote depends on where you live. Coeur d’Alene voters are each assigned to one of eight polling places, such as Lake City High School, North Idaho College or churches. Post Falls residents east of Idaho Street will vote at the Seltice Avenue National Guard armory; those west at Seltice Elementary School.

For residents in smaller cities, the polling place is usually the local city hall.

Voters may register to vote today, provided they have a driver’s license and proof of 30 days residency, like a month-old utility bill or rent receipt. Monday was the last day to pick up absentee ballots.

“There are no exceptions on Election Day,” warned Deedie Beard, election coordinator for Kootenai County.

In emergencies, such as a car accident the day before an election, Beard will dispatch a worker to record someone’s vote in a hospital room.

“It always happens,” she said.

Other than a mildly controversial Rose Lake fire district vote, Beard said she doesn’t expect particularly heavy turnout this year.

“It’s going to go city by city, depending on what issues they have and whether they’ve got a mayor up for election or not,” she said. “I haven’t seen a lot of interest.”

In Hayden, election judge Shirley Braswell expects the weather to play a big factor. Good weather equals more voters, she said, and vice versa.

In case things get slow, Braswell and her workers are bringing their knitting, crocheting and playing cards.

“Of course, when voters come in the door, we hang on our serious faces,” she smiled. “Because this is serious business.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: For the latest election results after the ballot counting starts, call Cityline at 765-8811 on a Touch-Tone phone, press 9494 for the Election Hotline, then press the number below: 1: Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls races. 2: Outlying areas in Kootenai County. 3: CityVote presidential results. 4: Sandpoint and Ponderay. 5: Shoshone and Benewah counties.

The first results should be available shortly after 8:30 p.m. Cityline is a free service of The Spokesman-Review, but normal long-distance tolls apply.