KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Early voting is underway in Idaho, and the Secretary of State's office believes the state could see historic voter turnout for the 2024 General Election.
In Kootenai County, early voting has already doubled compared to past presidential elections.
As of Thursday, Kootenai County elections are reporting 17,417 early votes. In 2020, that total was 9,422, but keep in mind, that was during the pandemic. In the 2016 presidential general election, the county had 8,508 early voters.
County Clerk Jennifer Locke believes way more voters are shuffling through the early voting line this year because of messaging this election cycle.
"I've seen messaging across the country to get out and vote early and get it done," Locke said. "I think that's the message we're not only seeing in Kootenai County, but I think that's what's happened nationally."
The Idaho Secretary of State's office is anticipating historic statewide voter turnout in this year's general election.
As of Wednesday, it's reporting nearly 293,443 total absentee and early voting ballots. In the 2020 presidential election, absentee and early voting totaled 493,719.
Early voting in Idaho runs until Friday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.