KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — The midterm elections are right around the corner and people in Kootenai County were able to make their voices heard at the ballot box starting this week.
Early voting is now open in the county. The Kootenai County elections department says more people came out to vote on Monday than on the first day of early voting for any of the elections of the past four years.
As of 4 p.m. on Monday, 1,023 people cast their ballots at the Kootenai County election office, less than 1% more than the 2024 presidential cycle but 52% more than the previous midterm elections in 2022.
While no results will be announced until after Election Day, two statewide issues could be driving more people to the polls this time around.
Proposition 1, which would create the right to abortion up until fetal viability except in cases of emergencies, and HJR 4 which, if passed, would give the Idaho legislature sole authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances.
If you weren’t able to cast your vote today, you still have plenty of time to vote early. The only place to do it in Kootenai County is at the county elections department. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until October 30. After that, you will have to wait until Election Day.
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