Absentee voting starts in primary

In-person absentee voting started on Monday at the Washington County Courthouse in advance of the Tuesday, March 10, presidential primary election.
 In-person absentee voting will end at 5 p.m. on March 6. After that date, voters can cast a ballot at the polls on March 10.   
 Registered voters who cannot vote absentee in-person early or won’t be able to vote on election day can request an absentee ballot in the mail.
 The application for an absentee ballot must be received by the county clerk by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county clerk by 5 p.m. on Election Day, March 10.
 Idaho is one of seven states holding presidential primaries on March 10, one week after Super Tuesday on March 3, when more than a dozen states will hold their primaries.
 There will actually be two primary elections this year. The March 10 primary is only for the purpose of choosing presidential candidates.
 There is another primary election on May 19 when voters will choose party nominees for the Idaho Legislature, county offices, both U.S. House seats, and the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
 Voters with the Republican, Democratic and Constitution parties will pick their nominations for president.
 In addition to President Donald Trump, the incumbent, there are five other candidates on the Republican Party primary ballot.
 The ballot for the Democrats contains a total of 17 candidates. Some candidates have publicly announced they are no longer in the race for president but did not officially withdraw in Idaho in time to be removed from the ballot.
 There are six candidates running for president on the Constitution Party ballot.
 In addition to nominating a candidate for president on March 10, voters in the Weiser School District will decide the fate of a two-year supplemental levy.
 The levy would collect $350,000 annually in property taxes for two years. The levy has been in place but expires every two years and by law must be renewed by voters.