The Courier
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
News
May 6, 2020
Vol 44 Num 19
Ballot Request Forms in the Mail
Press Release
Camas Cemetery District Override Levy
Voters in Camas County are being asked to approve an override levy for the Cemetery District to increase their anual budget from $4500 to just over $33,000. The current area of the Mountain View Cemetery has been full (or all the plots taken) for several years, and the district has been struggling to incorporate a new section to the cemetery. The new Bundy Addition to the northwest of the existing cemetery needs a number of improvements. The added area will also increase maintenance costs. If approved, the override levy will raise property taxes about $20 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value. Funds will be used to operate, maintain, and develop the four cemeteries in Camas County.
Lincoln County Commissioner Races
In August, a recall election will be held in Lincoln County to consider removing two commissioners: Roy Hubert and Rick Ellis. In the mean time, two commissioner positions are up for reelection during the May 19th Primary. In District One (Shoshone) Commissioner Rick Ellis has two competators: Davis Schoolcraft and Joann Rutler. In District Two (North Shoshone & Richfield) Commissioner Rebecca Wood also has two competators: Haisen Workman and Margo Harvey Tafoya. Along with the Commissioner races, Scott Denning is challenging R. King for Lincoln County Sheriff. There are no Democratic candidates for these offices.
Gooding County Races
Ballot request forms for the May Primary Election will begin landing in registered voters mailboxes this week. The Secretary of State’s Office sent more than 550,000 forms statewide. All Idahoans will vote in the May Primary Election from home to protect voters, election workers and community members from the coronavirus. Voters who want to participate in the upcoming election must request their ballot. “County Clerks, along with their election staff, in each county in and surrounding the Magic Valley are committed to afford all our residents the opportunity to vote in the May Primary Election,” said Joe Larsen, Cassia County Clerk. Many county election offices from across the state have also sent out ballot request forms to registered voters in their counties over the last few weeks and implemented other voter outreach efforts. As of May 1, more than 185,000 Idahoans had requested their ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Idahoans have until May 19 at 8 p.m. to request their ballot. Voters can either return the ballot request form that was mailed to them or go online to request their ballot at www.IdahoVotes.gov. Voters must indicate if they want a Republican, Democratic or Nonpartisan ballot. If voters have questions about the ballot type or the election, they should contact their local elections office. Voters should be patient once they request their ballot. Requests are being processed as quickly as possible to give voters plenty of time to return their ballot by the 8 p.m. June 2 deadline. Election offices across the state have processed thousands of ballot requests. Early numbers from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office show the May Primary Election is on track to meet typical voter turnout numbers. Here is a look at ballot requests in the region as of May 1:
Along with four levy elections (goto the county website or see next week’s paper for details) Gooding County has two contested races - First District Commissioner and the Prosecuting Attorney. Susan Bolton is being challenged by Jerry Pierce for the District 1 Commissioner seat, and Trevor Misseldine is running against the incombant, Matt Pember, for the county’s Prosecuting Attorney. Camas County Races There is only one contested race in Camas county. Jeff Kreyssig is running against Steve Miller
• Blaine County: 2,079 • Camas County: 167 • Lincoln County: 564 • Gooding County: 1,654
• Cassia County: 1,891 • Jerome County: 1,387 • Minidoka County: 1,190 • Twin Falls County: 6,551
for the Republican Precinct One Committeeman. This individual will also represent the county Ballots will be counted and election results will be released at the County and District Conventions. on June 2, 2020.