This info was just sent this afternoon from the Kootenai County Clerk’s Office: A Short History of the Cd’A School Levy Ballot
The Coeur d’Alene School District developed the March 8 ballot language, not Kootenai County’s Elections team. County Elections’ staff discussed the implications of the ballot language with school district personnel numerous times in the last six weeks.
“For the School District to say we did not understand their intent is disingenuous” said Kootenai County Clerk Cliff Hayes. “We confirmed their intent several times.”
The Cd’A School District sent final ballot language to the County Elections staff on January 14, three days later than when it was due. According to emails from the School District Clerk to County Elections Manager Carrie Phillips, the delays were because School Superintendant Hazel Bauman and their legal counsel were reviewing and finalizing the ballot language.
In numerous conversations, County Elections’ personnel discussed implications of the ballot wording with the School District Clerk. On February 28 Elections staffer Susan Smith spoke with the School District Clerk and on March 3 Ms. Phillips met with the School District Clerk. In each of these conversations the School District Clerk agreed that unless a voter marked YES on Option 1, that voter should not vote on Option 2.
Prior to March 8’s election, County Elections’ staffers and the School District Clerk had more discussions about the ballot language’s implications for tallying the votes. “The School District confirmed that the setup of the vote tally spreadsheet was consistent with their expectations: that Option 1 percentages would be reported separately from Option 2 percentages” said Carrie Phillips.
Cliff Hayes restated his view, “The County Elections department stands by its work in this matter. We followed the law, we confirmed our understanding at numerous points with the Coeur d’Alene School District, and we have no intention of changing the vote count, which would be a felony”, Hayes said, citing Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 23.
For further Information contact:
Clifford T. Hayes, Kootenai County Clerk
208/446-1651 or email: chayes@kcgov.us
I appreciate that Mr. Hayes will not “assume” what any voter meant by not voting on question number 2. If a voter did not mark a box on Quest. 2, whether they were following directions or not, they did not vote on it. And their lack of a vote on Question 2 should not be reported as a vote.
Comment by mary — March 11, 2011 @ 3:25 pm
Mary,
Imagine this: Before the next Coeur d’Alene City Council election, the Mayor goes to Kootenai County Clerk Cliff Hayes and says, “Cliff, I know there will be some voters who will turn in ballots on which they didn’t vote for either the incumbent or the challenger. I want you to count those unvoted ballots as a vote for the incumbent.”
So what’s the difference between that and what the School District did?
Comment by Bill — March 13, 2011 @ 9:15 am