Local election offices seeing above-average turnout
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IDAHO FALLS — Elections offices across eastern Idaho are reporting better-than-average turnouts at the polls this morning.
Thousands of Idaho Republicans are expected to vote in today’s presidential primary. The Republican candidates — Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich — are vying for Idaho’s 32 delegates.
Bonneville County Elections Supervisor Penny Manning said voter turnout has been steady and in a number of polling locations higher than average.
Elections officials in Madison and Bingham counties are reporting similar turnouts.
“We’ve been at the polls since 8 a.m. and the turnout has been steady,” Bingham County Election Director Marlene Jensen said. “Voters have been at all the polls, and we’re thinking it’s above where we thought it would be.”
Although Idaho doesn’t have a huge delegate count, the Gem State is playing a bigger role in this year’s primary. Last year, state legislators passed a law moving the presidential primary from May to March. In previous elections, a Republican nominee had already been chosen by the time the May primary began.
Both Rubio and Cruz made stops in Idaho this weekend. Cruz held rallies in Coeur d’Alene and Boise on Saturday. Rubio held a rally in Idaho Falls and in Boise on Sunday.
Both politicians have received endorsements from Idaho businessmen and politicians. Billionaire businessman Frank VanderSloot endorsed Rubio alongside U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho.
U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, has endorsed Cruz, and Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has thrown his support behind Kasich.
Today’s primary is open to registered Republican voters and members of the Constitution Party. However, residents can register to vote as a Republican or a member of the Constitution Party at the polls today.
For information about voting in the primary click here.