Kootenai County designates polling places and approves ballot order for May 19 primary; absentee ballots to be mailed this week

Kootenai County commissioners on March 31 approved two changes to polling places for the May 19, 2026 primary and adopted the ballot order required under Idaho Code 34-902.

Elections official Asa Gray said precinct 407 will move from the county meeting room to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds to collocate with four other precincts, and precinct 319 will move from the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple to Hayden Bible Church to collocate with precincts 315 and 318 due to temporary facility issues. Gray noted that state statute encourages keeping polling locations the same between primary and general elections and indicated he would bring the same locations back for the November election unless facilities become unavailable.

Gray gave operational context: the county has 110,456 registered voters, and as of about 1:30 p.m. on March 31 had 2,825 absentee ballot requests for the May primary. He said absentee ballots would start mailing on Friday and that poll-worker training and early-voting preparations would follow. Gray also outlined the on-ballot items: local levies for Lakeland Joint School District #272, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue District, and Kellogg Joint School District #391; judicial contests and multiple partisan and nonpartisan races; and a complex array of ballot styles in some precincts (up to 16 styles in one precinct).

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-48 to designate the polling places and then approved the ballot order for the May 19 primary. Gray reiterated that the county is preparing to mail absentee ballots and to proceed with poll worker training and early voting schedules.

The actions clear logistical steps for election staff to implement the polling-location changes and proceed with absentee ballot mailings.