POCATELLO - Some political candidates canvassing Bannock County claim they've discovered irregularities with absentee voting ballots for the Nov. 4 election.

"In one case, a man died on Sept. 5 but requested an absentee ballot on Sept. 16," said Leslie Romriell, chairwoman for the Bannock County Republicans.

In another instance, a candidate reported discovering that a former resident, who sold his home in Bannock County seven years ago and moved to Canada, has received absentee ballots and voted in each local election since then.

"This year he requested and received two absentee ballots," Romriell said.

Voters are required to list their residence as the primary address on voter registration forms. But Romriell said candidates have discovered several voters have listed their business addresses.

"All we can do is challenge the votes," she said. "It's up to the (county) clerk's office to resolve it."

Republican Chris Stevens, who's challenging Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, in District 30, Seat B, said voter registration cards include a warning to anyone who might provide false information.

"The card says they could be charged with perjury," Stevens said.

The disclaimer also states that violators could be subject to fines and up to one year in jail.

"I'm out here trying to do my job and trying to win votes, and I'm seeing all these irregularities," Stevens said.

However, Democrat Allen Andersen, a candidate in District 29, Seat A, said he hasn't noticed any irregularities that cause him to question the election process in Bannock County.

Andersen said campaign volunteers poll election lists from Bannock County, and he then goes door to door to win support.

"We have found a number of people that have moved, and we make note of that," Andersen said.

When he meets new residents along the campaign trail, Andersen said he provides registration cards and encourages them to register and vote.

Bannock County Election Administrator Peg Jardine said unless a vote is challenged, there is no way to verify that correct information has been provided, and no one in the county has challenged votes during her 20-year tenure in the election office.

"When voters sign the card, they are, in effect, taking an oath," Jardine said.

If a candidates were to challenge absentee votes, she said it would be up to the District Court to sort it out.

Jardine said absentee ballots are sent to nursing homes and assisted living centers and residents do sometimes die between the primaries and the general elections.

So far, 288 absentee ballots have been returned for the Nov. 4, election. Absentee voting started in Bannock County on Sept. 18 and will continue through Nov. 2.

Ralph Lillig, of Pocatello, also a Republican, is making a bid for the office of Idaho state senator in District 29.

Legislative District 29 includes the eastern and southern parts of Pocatello and all of Chubbuck, as well as the southern communities of Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Arimo and Downey.

Lillig said a recent injury has kept him from hitting the streets during the final weeks before the election, but he agrees the county election office needs to be more accountable.

"I would like to see some oversight from the Attorney General's Office," he said.

He became concerned about the election process in Bannock County long before he announced his candidacy.

Lillig volunteered to count ballots in Bannock County during a previous election and said he was surprised to learn that no formal protocol was in place regarding the counting process.

"I was told, 'We just expect you to figure it out,'" he said.

Three Democrats, three Republicans and three election officials spent more than 10 hours processing 3,500 ballots.

Lillig said ballots that came in unsealed or unsigned and should have been disqualified according to state codes but were counted, nonetheless. Ballot boxes were also removed from the counting room without an election official being present, according to Lillig.