Kootenai County early voting begins, primary ballots include local levy questions

Voters in Kootenai County have from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through May 15 to cast an early ballot for the May 19 primary, with county levy questions joining the partisan races on the same ballot. The county posted an election alert on April 28 urging voters to review primary dates, sample ballots and polling place information now, before the late rush begins.

The county’s election calendar also places several deadlines squarely in the first half of May. Absentee ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. on May 8, and voter pre-registration closes the same day. The county’s Public Logic & Accuracy Test for tabulators was scheduled for Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. at the Kootenai County Elections Department, 1808 N. 3rd St. in Coeur d’Alene. The county’s own timeline shows the election is already moving on multiple fronts at once, from equipment checks to ballot requests to in-person early voting.

Kootenai County’s 2026 election calendar includes only two elections, the May 19 primary and the Nov. 3 general election. Idaho’s primary system is generally closed, which means voters may cast ballots only in the party primary for the party they are registered with, unless party rules allow otherwise. Unaffiliated voters may affiliate with a party up to or on Election Day, and all registered voters may vote on nonpartisan matters, including judicial races and levy questions.

That makes this primary about more than nominations. County election materials show ballots will include levy questions for Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, Lakeland Joint School District No. 272 and Kellogg Joint School District No. 391. Those questions can affect fire protection staffing, school district budgets and property taxes for residents who live inside those taxing districts.

The partisan side of the ballot is also crowded. Kootenai County voters will see contests for U.S. senator, Idaho’s 1st Congressional District seat, statewide offices, legislative seats and county offices, including clerk, commissioner in District 1, commissioner in District 2, coroner, treasurer and precinct committeeman. Nonpartisan judicial races, including Idaho Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and district court judges, are also on the ballot.

Turnout remains the central question. In a local opinion piece published May 1, the county’s last primary turnout rate was pegged at 30%, and Clerk Jennifer Locke said most county-level races are contested, with the District 4 legislative race expected to help drive interest. As of April 17, 4,122 voters had requested absentee ballots, compared with 8,364 requests in the 2024 primary and 6,954 in 2022. In those earlier primaries, 7,101 absentee ballots were returned in 2024 and 6,019 in 2022, leaving this year’s participation still very much up for grabs before the May 8 deadline.