BY KAREN BOSSICK
Early voter turnout is strong as Election Day approaches. And, with 13 days to go, party faithful on both sides say the usual theft of political signs has started.
More than 4,000 Blaine County residents—about 27.8 percent—had voted by the time the weekend rolled around. By mid-day Tuesday 36.5 percent of registered voters had voted, according to the Elections Office.
Just under 11,000 people voted in the 2016 presidential election.
Absentee ballots must be mailed by Friday, Oct. 23. The status of an absentee ballot can be checked by going to www.Idahovotes.gov and clicking on “Check your Voter Record.”
The last day for early in-person voting at the old Blaine County Courthouse is Friday, Oct. 30.
With interest in the election running high, there have been a few reports of stolen campaign signs, according to the Ketchum Police Office.
Jennifer Bellinger said she had two Trump signs taken from her fence at Emerald Street and Highway 75 near the southern entrance to Ketchum during the past two weeks.
She says she tied a 2-by-5-foot sign tied to her metal fence post on Saturday, Oct. 10, went off to dinner and found it gone when she arrived home.
She put up a banner Saturday, Oct. 17, and it, too, was removed. This time, Bellinger set up a video and still camera, which showed what appeared to be a woman and man in their 20s removing the banner.
“It’s disturbing, and it’s also criminal,” said Bellinger who filed a police report. “This is trespassing, and it interferes with my First Amendment rights.”
Blaine County Democrats have also reported signs being removed—at least, one person near Fox Acres Road has had two signs stolen. State Sen. Michelle Stennett said it was actually worse during the last election when signs were not only removed but vandalized.
The cost of signs start at $5 each and go up depending on the size and color, said Blaine County Democrats spokesperson Janie Davidson. Those supporting local candidates are free for supporters to stake in their yards.
Those pitching Biden/Harris yard signs are contributing $15 to help defray the cost of getting the signs here.
The great campaign sign caper is not limited to the Wood River Valley.
Homeowners have complained that political yard signs supporting Democratic Party candidates have been stolen and vandalized in Twin Falls, Jerome, Filer and Buhl, as well. One Vietnam-era veterans even told KMVT that his house had been egged after people apparently tried to throw eggs at his sign and missed.