Voter turnout stronger than usual in some Treasure Valley cities

By Kristin Rodine, Joe Estrella, Bethann Stewart, Katy Moeller and Anna Webb

Traditionally, many voters are likely to stay home if the only issues on the ballot are local.

But in Nampa and Caldwell, the early numbers seem higher than usual for a City Council/mayor election, Deputy Canyon County Clerk Brad Jackson said.

Actual turnout numbers won’t be available until late Tuesday night, but Jackson estimated around a quarter of the cities’ eligible voters will mark ballots by time the polls close at 8 p.m. Nampa and Caldwell voters will decide whether to return incumbent mayors and council members – two in Nampa, three in Caldwell – to office.

Turnout was about 22 percent in the last mayoral election four years ago, Jackson said, and about 18 percent for the last council-only election.

Outside the cities, the procession of voters has been substantially slimmer, he said, noting that the proposed jail bond is the only countywide issue.

In Meridian, City Clerk Jaycee Holman said turnout has been steady throughout the day and could surpass the number of vote cast in the last council-only election four years ago.

And one of the smallest cities in the Treasure Valley is reporting one of the healthiest voter turnouts Tuesday.

Voters in Star are deciding whether the city should sell $6 million in bonds to buy River Birch Golf Course and build a swimming pool there. They're also voting on three candidates vying for two council seats.

"There's been a nice steady stream of voters," said Kathleen Hutton, deputy city clerk. There were several vehicles in the parking lot before the polling site opened at 8 a.m.

Boise voting has been light, although one precinct requested another 100 ballots, said John Eichmann in the Boise City Clerk's office. Three seats on the Boise City Council are on the ballot, and all Boise residents can vote on all three.

About 2,100 voters had cast their votes by midday either at walk-in locations or as absentee mail-in ballots, Eichmann said.

Kuna City Clerk Lynda Burgess said she issued about 155 absentee ballots, about double the number she issued two years ago. One or two candidates were handing out ballots while campaigning, Burgess said.

"I was at the polls when they opened," Burgess said. "There was maybe one or two people waiting to get in. But it's been a slow, steady influx."

Eagle voters are considering five candidates for two seats on the city council. About 12 to 15 people were waiting to vote at city hall when the polls opened this morning, said Eagle senior deputy clerk Tracy Osborn.

Garden City officials didn't expect a large turnout, as there are no contested races this election. Only a few city residents had cast votes at each of the city's four polling sites by 9 a.m.