Commissioners designate polling places and approve ballot order for May 20 consolidated election

Kootenai County commissioners approved a resolution designating polling places and the consolidated election ballot order for the May 20, 2025 election during the April 8 meeting.

The elections office reported changes to several precinct locations, explained the ballot style count and absentee/order projections, and noted outreach plans to reduce voter confusion about a countywide library trustee seat.

Why it matters: Finalizing polling locations and the ballot order is required for printing ballots, preparing precinct equipment and informing voters ahead of absentee and early voting deadlines.

Details presented by elections staff

Asa Gray, elections staff, told the board that a newly adopted Precinct 209 will vote at Timberlake High School, co‑located with existing Precinct 202. Seven precincts will move to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds (including precincts previously at Lake City High School and Heart of the City Church). Several Post Falls‑area precincts will move to the Post Falls Library or to Fellowship Bible Church; one precinct is returning to the Post Falls Library after prior flood‑related relocation. Gray said most moves were prompted by the unavailability of previously used facilities, and that co‑locating precincts at the fairgrounds was deemed prudent.

Gray also outlined ballot content for May 20: hospital district races, a consolidated free library district trustee seat that covers the county except the city limits of Coeur d'Alene, multiple water and sewer district board contests (including Ohiomass Road Water District, Green Ferry Water and Sewer District and Ross Pointe Water District) and school district supplemental levies and fire district questions. Two highway districts (East Side and Worley) have contested races. Gray said the overall election will include 23 ballot styles across 74 precincts.

Absentee and early voting

Gray reported that 2,111 absentee ballots had been requested as of the afternoon of April 8 (the absentee request deadline is May 9). Early in‑person voting at the elections office is scheduled Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 16 during normal business hours.

Voter‑information note

Gray flagged that the consolidated free library district trustee seat often causes confusion because residents inside the Coeur d'Alene city limits are not part of that countywide district; elections staff will provide signage at precincts that overlap city limits to reduce voter confusion.

Board action and next steps

The board approved Resolution 2025‑534 designating polling places for the May 20 consolidated election and approved the ballot order. Elections staff will proceed with ballot printing and precinct notifications.