Pocatello asking for absentee requests to be sent in earlier

Election officials in Pocatello are recommending people to submit their request for an absentee ballot sooner rather than later.

When a voter requests an absentee ballot, it has to be mailed to them. Once they receive it and fill it out, they can either mail it or bring it in-person to the Bannock County Elections Office. Voters can also have someone hand-deliver it for them.

Since the closure of the mail processing center on Flandro Drive in Pocatello, City Clerk Ruth Whitworth has noticed the time for people to receive and send mail has slowed down.

She’s concerned that votes will not get counted because people will request ballots on deadline.

“It may not go in the mail until Oct. 29 because you’re (mailing it) at 5 p.m.,” said Whitworth. “Then you’re really looking for a delay to get that back before 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.”

To help get votes counted sooner, the Bannock County Elections Office will start accepting absentee ballots this week instead of Monday.