Election information for Primary Election May 17

March 11 — Declaration of candidate filing due. March 11 is also the last day to change or add a political party affiliation with the county clerk before the May 17 primary.

The purpose of primary elections in the state of Idaho is to allow members of a recognized political party to select that party’s nominees to go on the general election ballot. Primary elections often are referred to as “party primaries.”

As a result of a federal court decision in 2011, the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 351 implementing a closed primary system.

Voters who are not members of a party may not participate in the selection of that party’s nominees. However, Idaho law does allow the political parties the option of opening their primary elections to “unaffiliated” voters and members of other political parties if they so choose.

In order to vote in the primary you must be registered with a political party, such as the Republican or the Democrat parties. This requires that you fill out an “Idaho Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form.”

If unsure of your voting location or have questions on the voting process, contact the Boundary County County Clerk's Office at 208-267-2242. Another resource is to check the Idaho Secretary of State website at www.sos.idaho.gov, just click the “Elections Division” tab.

Visit the Idaho Secretary of State's interactive website to identify your exact residence location and get step-by-step driving instructions to your polling place. When using this site, you must enter your new physical address, including your house number and the first three letters of your street name.

Polling sites are subject to change and such changes will be announced in the local newspaper and on this site prior to the election. Polling sites are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election days.

Boundary County polling sites:

• BF/Kootenai: Exhibit Hall at Fairgrounds: 6571 Recreation Park Road, Bonners Ferry

• Copeland: Mount Hall School: 1275 Highway 1, Bonners Ferry

• Moyie Springs: Moyie City Hall, 3331 Roosevelt Road, Moyie Springs

• Naples: South Boundary Fire St. No. 1, 20 Stagecoach Road, Naples

• North Bonners Ferry: Exhibit Hall at Fairgrounds, 6571 Recreation Park Road, Bonners Ferry

• Valley View: Exhibit Hall at Fairgrounds, 6571 Recreation Park Road, Bonners Ferry

REGISTERING TO VOTE

In order to register to vote in Boundary County, you must be a U.S. citizen, have resided within Boundary County for a minimum of 30 days prior to the election and be 18 years of age or older.

You cannot register to vote if you've been convicted of a felony and have not yet had your civil rights restored.

You can register to vote in the clerk’s office at the Boundary County Courthouse. Boundary County residents serving on active military duty anywhere in the world can register by mail using mail-in military registration forms, available at any United States military installation. If you register by mail, please include a photocopy of legal identification. Whether you walk in or mail in to register, the registration form must be in the clerk’s office or postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election in which you wish to vote. Mail registrations for Boundary County to County Clerk, P.O. Box 419, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.

Voters can also register at the polls prior to casting their ballots. You'll need valid identification, such as an Idaho driver's license or identification card and proof of residency (utility bills, etc.). Information required to register, whether by mail, walk-in or at the polls includes your name, gender, postal and physical address, date of birth and length of residency.

Those who cannot or choose not to go to the polls on Election Day can cast their vote by absentee ballot. Those wishing to vote absentee can pick up applications for absent elector's ballot at the clerk's office or by using the link below. Absentee ballot applications must be turned in each year you wish to vote absentee. The Boundary County Courthouse is an absentee polling site prior to election day. Registered voters outside the county should submit their application for an absent elector's ballot allowing ample mail time prior to the election. Completed ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on election day in the Clerk's Office.