COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — Anyone interested in monitoring ballot cameras can do so by using this link provided by Kootenai County Elections Department.
As votes come in, we want all eyes on us to ensure transparency and build trust in our voting system. We have a series of cameras you can watch as we open absentee ballots and during election night as we count votes.
Statement on Kootenai County Election Department webpage
Idaho code 34-1005 requires all absentee ballots to be returned by November 5 at 8:00 p.m. to be valid. The elections department at 1808 N. Third Street in Coeur d’Alene is the only location excepting absentee ballots.
Idaho election laws govern when absentee ballots can be opened and tabulated, as well as how to secure and tabulate early voting ballots. Idaho Code 34-1007 mandates “A minimum of two (2) election officials must be present whenever absentee ballots are accessed. No results shall be tabulated for absentee ballots until the polls close on the day of the election.”
Idaho Code 34-1013 secures the integrity of early voting ballots by requiring these procedures to be followed:
- (a) The ballot boxes used for casting early ballots shall remain locked and secured with a numbered seal until the time of tabulation on election day;
- (b) A record shall be maintained consisting of the number of ballots issued by date and seal number of each ballot box used for early voting;
- (c) Arrangements shall be made to have a deputy sheriff, police officer or bonded private security firm secure the location; and
- (d) The actual counting of ballots shall not begin until election day, and the results shall not be released to the public until all voting places in the state have closed.
Polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5. Voters can find their polling location at VoteIdaho.gov or on the county website.
