Latah County Prepares for Primary Election with New Voting Locations

Early voting will take place at the fairgrounds and University of Idaho's Pitman Center

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:05am

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A serene, painterly interior scene of an empty polling station, with warm natural light streaming in through large windows and casting deep shadows across the space, conveying a sense of civic duty and solemnity.Latah County's new early voting and polling locations aim to create a more accessible and comfortable voting experience for local residents.Moscow Today

Latah County officials announced changes to polling locations and early voting procedures ahead of the upcoming primary election on May 19. The county auditor said early voting will now take place at the Latah County Fairgrounds instead of the courthouse, and the University of Idaho polling location has moved from the Kibbie Dome to the Pitman Center. These changes were made to accommodate growing numbers of early voters and provide more spacious, accessible voting sites.

Why it matters

Ensuring accessible and secure voting locations is crucial for maintaining public trust in the electoral process, especially in the wake of increased scrutiny and misinformation around elections. Latah County's proactive steps to adapt voting procedures demonstrate their commitment to serving the needs of local voters.

The details

Latah County Auditor Julie Fry announced that early voting for the May 19 primary will take place from May 4 to May 15 at the Latah County Fairgrounds, rather than the traditional courthouse location. Fry said the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency deemed the courthouse too small and crowded to handle the growing number of early voters. For the fall election, early voting will also be available at the University of Idaho's Student Union Building in addition to the fairgrounds. The county also moved the UI polling location from the Kibbie Dome to the larger Bruce M. Pitman Center to provide a quieter, more spacious voting environment with free parking for voters.

  • Early voting for the May 19 primary will take place from May 4 to May 15.
  • Early voting for the fall 2026 election will take place at the Latah County Fairgrounds and the University of Idaho Student Union Building.

The players

Julie Fry

Latah County Auditor who announced the changes to early voting locations and polling sites.

Nancy Griffin

Latah County Election Director who cited budget and staffing limitations as the reason for keeping early voting at a two-week period, despite the state allowing up to three weeks.

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What they’re saying

“These changes were made for the benefit of the voters.”

— Julie Fry, Latah County Auditor

What’s next

The Latah County Commissioners will continue to monitor voter turnout and feedback on the new polling locations ahead of the November general election.

The takeaway

Latah County's proactive steps to adapt voting procedures demonstrate their commitment to serving the needs of local voters and maintaining secure, accessible elections. These changes aim to accommodate growing early voter turnout and provide more spacious, comfortable voting environments.