Web site aimed at voter concerns

BOISE – Secretary of State Ben Ysursa unveiled a new Internet-based tool Tuesday to help Idaho voters answer their No. 1 Election Day question: Where do I vote? But even with such new tools, he’s only expecting about a 27 percent to 28 percent turnout for next week’s primary election.

“I hope I’m wrong. I hope we’re in the 30s,” Ysursa said. “That’s a sad commentary … but that’s where we are.”

Kootenai County Clerk Dan English agreed. “You just usually get a certain amount of hubbub around an election, and we’re just not seeing or hearing too much of it this year,” he said. “The absentee numbers, at least, are not showing a strong turnout. … I hope it does hit 28.”

Idaho primary elections typically draw only 25 percent to 35 percent of registered voters to the polls, Ysursa said. This year, interest in the election appears comparable to 2004, he said, when just 27 percent turned out. Turnout in the 2002 primary was 32 percent, and in 2000, 33 percent.

That’s less than half the typical turnout for a November general election – even though primary elections have become increasingly important in Idaho as Republicans have dominated the state Legislature and most state and federal elective offices.

So far this year, early voting via absentee ballots has “been on the low end,” according to reports from counties, Ysursa said. “I think more people are worried about floods and other things than elections at this point. To me, I don’t see the intensity that I think we should see in the election process at this time.”

In an effort to make things as easy for voters as possible, Idaho has added a new feature to its www.idahovotes.gov Web site that will allow any voter to find out where to go to the polls on Election Day, complete with directions and a map.

There’s also a new feature to allow a voter to check if he or she is registered.

Ysursa said during big general elections, county election offices and the secretary of state’s office typically are swamped with calls from people trying to figure out where to go to vote.

“It’s just another way to remove any possible obstacles people have,” Ysursa said. “Idaho prides itself on having a very accessible system.”

The enhancements to the state election Web site were paid for by $57,000 in federal funds provided under the Help America Vote Act.

But Ysursa cautioned, “Voting is a two-way street.”

Public officials have a responsibility to provide voters with all the information they need about voting and to make sure voting is as easy as possible for all Idahoans, he said. But voters, for their part, have a responsibility “to be informed and cast an informed vote.”

In the end, Ysursa said, “candidates and issues drive turnout.”

He said turnout may be higher in the 1st Congressional District – which includes North Idaho – because of a hot, six-way GOP primary for an open seat, in addition to a contested Democratic race for the same seat.

But there are contested races up and down the ballot, from five candidates running for state superintendent of schools – three Republicans and two Democrats – to contests for everything from state controller to legislator to county commissioner.

Idaho voters can register at the polls on Election Day if they’re not already registered and can vote in advance by absentee ballot, either by mail or in person, if they can’t make it to the polls.

On May 23, Election Day, polls statewide are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – and some counties, including Kootenai County, allow voting as early as 7 a.m.

Said Ysursa, “There are no impediments as far as we’re concerned from the government for people to get out there and cast their vote.”