All polling locations in Kootenai County will remain open until 8:00 p.m.
KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Voters are reminded that the First Amendment protects free expression and political speech even at the polls. In 2020, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion that wearing campaign clothing at the polls is protected expression.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
“If a voter appears at the poll wearing a shirt or button with election-related slogans, graphics, or the like simply goes about their business to vote without interfering with anyone else, making a statement, or any other active conduct related to their message, this office recommends that they be allowed to vote without any discussion of the issue,” the opinion stated.
In Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, the United States Supreme Court found the fundamental right to express yourself politically at or near polling places can only be restricted when the government can show that the speech or expression will interfere with someone else’s voting process or when it might endanger election integrity.
Kootenai County citizen voters can locate their polling place here; photo identification is required. Campaign material is allowed in the voting booth for personal use, however, the material cannot be shared or discussed with others within 250 feet of the polling location and cannot be left in the voting booth per Idaho statute.
In the county, battle lines have been drawn around the Proposition 1 ballot measure, which would abolish Idaho’s party primaries and require a Ranked-Choice Voting system in the general election and the nonpartisan ballot for three North Idaho College trustee seats. County and legislative district races are predicted wins for Republicans, while the four Magistrate Judge positions on the ballot are the least well-known. Kootenai Journal reported on the only known First Judicial District political campaign — Families Against Judge Peterson — at the beginning of October. There has been little discussion about the ballot measure seeking to amend the Idaho Constitution which would add language to provide that only United States citizens may vote in elections in the State of Idaho.
Political pundits, corporate media, and everyday Americans from both sides of the political divide agree on one thing — this is the most consequential presidential election in the last 100 years.
We do not have to live this way. We do not have to settle for weakness, incompetence, decline, and decay.
President Donald J. Trump, November 4, 2024
“As your president, I will fight for you every single day, with every breath in my body,” promised Trump at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 4. “Together, we will save this country, we will defeat the corrupt system in Washington, and America’s future will be an absolutely incredible one.”
We love our country. And when you love something, you fight for it.
Vice President Kamala Harris, November 3 2024
“I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism,” stated Harris at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America.”
