Ever-changing polling sites make no sense

Dear editor:

I am growing increasingly concerned about where we vote in Elmore County and the way it provides an advantage to certain voters.

Although the Elmore County website identifies voting locations, the actual polling places seem to change with the winds. If we are voting in a bond election the polling place changes to provide an advantage to the voters most likely to benefit from the specific bond.

Last year we registered and voted absentee at the hospital annex for the hospital bond and at the school administration building for the school bond. I think the Idaho Statute 34-404 through 34-410 not only gives the responsibility for providing absentee balloting and voter registration to the county clerk but also spells out the clerk's responsibilities. Did our county clerk provide an advantage to these bonds by choosing those locations? It doesn't end with the clerk -- what about where we voted for these bonds?

Once again I'm not sure but I believe the Idaho Statute 34-302 gives the responsibility for determining polling locations to the county commissioners. Any change requires 30 days notice prior to an election. Where were the polling places for the last school bond and when did they make that determination?

Those were not the same locations identified on the Elmore County website. Where are the polling places for the upcoming school bond, who made the determination, when was the decision made, and how are the voters notified?

I'm sure the students have been given information for their parents by the school urging them to come into the school to vote for the bond. That in itself is a tremendous advantage.

Oh and when did these polls open for the last school bond election? According to an article in the Mountain Home News quoting the school Superintendent the polls opened at noon. I believe the Idaho Statute 34-1101 required the polls to open at 8 AM (although early opening is authorized) and not close until 8 PM.

Maybe I am reading the Idaho statutes incorrectly, I don't profess to be a lawyer. But if I am correct it is time for the voters of Elmore County to demand that the voting process be fair, honest and comply with not only the letter of the law but the intent of the Idaho Statutes.

Let us have a standard voting location and stop jerking the voters around.

I hope the commissioners and clerk realize we will soon be voting for their reelection. I can only hope the polling location isn't their backyard.

Joe Haas

(Editor's note: There are separate procedures for different government entities. The code sections referred to by Mr. Haas are correct for elections run by the county. But each government entity has, within certain limits, fairly broad authority in where and when election polling sites are open for elections run by that specific entity.

In addition, the school district, or any other government entity proposing a bond issue, may distribute factual information about its proposal, but may not advocate passage.)