Absentee, sample ballots available for Primary Election

Absentee and Sample Ballots for the May 23 Primary Election are now available in the Clearwater County Auditor, Recorder and Clerk's office.

The law requires that a written request for an absentee ballot be submitted prior to any absentee ballots being issued. The Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office has the application for the absentee ballot forms in their office. Absentee ballots cannot be picked up at the courthouse by anyone other than the person to whom it is being issued. Those who bring a request into the Auditor, Recorder and Clerk's office for someone other than themselves will learn that the Absentee Ballot will have to be mailed to the person for whom it is issued.

The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office is the day before the Primary Election, May 22. The application for an absentee ballot that has to be mailed out must be received by the Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office by 5 p.m. on the sixth day before the Primary Election, May 17. All Primary Election absentee ballots must be returned to the Clearwater County Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 23 to be counted.

"We hope to have the absentee polling booths set up in the Auditor, Recorder and Clerk's office by April 24, 2006," said Robin Christensen, Clearwater County Clerk, Auditor, Recorder.

The last day to pre-register to vote before the Primary Election is April 28. Those have moved, even within the county, need to re-register to vote. Election Day registration is now available. However, those who plan to register to vote at the polls need to be aware that they need to have picture identification and proof of their physical residence address with them when they go to vote. They should bring their driver's license with them (if they have one), since it is required that they put their driver's license number on their voter registration card. Those who do not have an Idaho Driver's license are required to put the last four digits of their social security number on their voter registration card. It is recommended that people pre-register with the Auditor, Recorder and Clerk's office prior to April 24, so there will not be long lines at the polling location on Election Day.

Three precincts have been designated "Vote by Mail" precincts. Those precincts are: Greer #7, Headquarters #10 and Grangemont #14. Ballots for the Primary Election will be mailed to all registered voters residing in those precincts during the first week of May. Anyone living in one of these areas who is unsure if their correct mailing address is recorded should check with the Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office before the first week of May. All ballots issued to voters in "Vote by Mail" precincts have to be returned to the Clearwater County Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 23, to be counted.

The May 23, 2006 Primary Election Sample Ballot can also be viewed on the Clearwater County website at www.clearwatercounty.org, click on Election Info., then click on Sample Ballot.

Those who have any questions are asked to contact the Auditor, Recorder & Clerk's office at 476-5615.