DOTC: Brannon Case Brought Up Issues

Re: OpenCDA.com: Kelso, Brannon file appeal of 2009 Coeur d’Alene election ruling /HucksOnline

Dan of the Community: While I of course have a strong difference of opinion from the conclusions of many of the self-taught “experts” in this case who I don’t believe have five minutes of actual experience in running an election between them, I would agree that there were various points brought up in the case that will be very helpful to have final clarification on. One of the most substantial is if U.S. citizens and military personnel and their dependents living abroad, regardless of duration, have certain rights to vote in local elections in Idaho. It is clear that different states have taken different postions. It is also clear that in Idaho the Secretary of State is the Chief Election Official and absent other clear direction in Idaho Code, gets to make those calls. For decades at least, in Idaho the call has been that they get to vote in local elections and that direction has been followed in Kootenai County and the other 43 counties in Idaho.

Question: Should military personnel and U.S. citizens living abroad be allowed to continue to vote in local elections in Idaho?