Early voting has begun in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — Voters have already started casting their votes for the Idaho Falls mayoral runoff election.
Early voting, which was scheduled to begin Monday, actually began earlier than expected on Nov. 16.
“We actually started early this week. Even though we had said Monday would be the kickoff, we were ready,” Bonneville County Elections Supervisor Brenda Prudent said.
Locals are voting for the second time as none of the candidates running for the mayor of Idaho Falls received the 50 percent plus one vote required to be elected to the seat.
Incumbent Mayor Rebecca Casper received 46.54 percent (5,357 votes) of the vote earlier this month. City Councilwoman Barbara Ehardt received 26.57 percent (3,058 votes) while State Rep. Jeff Thompson received 23.17 percent (2,667 votes). Ronald Jorde received 2.27 percent (261 votes) and Kenly Osterhout received 1.46 percent (168 votes).
Prudent said 52 people have come into the election office to vote so far, and 394 voters requested a ballot by mail.
Early voting ends Dec. 1 and the elections office is closed for Thanksgiving on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24.
Residents can come to 825 Shoup Avenue to vote in person or registered voters can go to the county’s website to fill out an application to request a ballot by mail.
The document can be faxed, emailed, dropped off in person, or left in the drop box by the door at the elections office. The cut off time for mail-in requests is Nov. 24 but will be extended to Monday, Nov. 27 because of the holiday weekend.
The runoff election will be held Dec. 5.