Caribou County certifies primary results; tied commissioner race decided by coin toss

Clerk Jill Stoor presented the canvass of the May 2026 primary and the Caribou County Board of Commissioners formally accepted the results during the May 26 meeting.

Stoor reported that total registered voters increased from 3,882 to 3,942 during the election cycle and that 1,491 ballots were cast countywide (37.82% turnout). The county recorded 96 absentee ballots, 85 mail ballots, 106 early votes and 1,204 election-day votes. The District Judge race was called for Judge Brower; a county commissioner race resulted in a tie.

Pursuant to Idaho Code as cited by the clerk, the tie was resolved using the statutory method authorized for tied county elections: the two candidates picked numbers, the candidate closest to the county commissioner’s number chose who would call the coin flip, and the clerk conducted the flip with a veteran’s coin donated by the mayor. George Hulse won the toss. The transcript includes the procedural citations the clerk read on the record (Idaho Code 37-1210 and Idaho Code 34-23) and notes that a recount application may be filed within the statutory time frame.

Commissioner Marty McCullough moved to accept the canvass as presented; Commissioner Bryce Somsen seconded and the motion passed. The transcript records the acceptance motion and the coin-toss result; it does not include a roll-call tally for the motion.

The clerk noted upcoming deadlines for recount petitions under state law and said the county would comply with any properly filed recount. There was no immediate request for a recount recorded in the meeting minutes.