Efforts to revive a bill that would have given Montana counties the option to hold a mail-ballot election are officially dead, and administrators have turned their attention to a rare special election to fill former U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke’s seat, a development that resulted from his appointment as the secretary of the interior.
Despite the support of nearly all of Montana’s 56 counties and the bill’s successful passage through the Montana Senate, the measure, Senate Bill 305, was tabled in the House Judiciary committee March 29.
An effort to “blast” the bill out of committee and on to the House floor was unsuccessful March 31, and Montana counties will now hold a traditional poll election on Thursday, May 25, to determine who will occupy Montana’s lone seat in the U.S House of Representatives.
The candidates are Democrat Rob Quist, Republican Greg Gianforte and Libertarian Mark Wicks.
Republican Party chairman and Billings Rep. Jeff Essmann issued an “Emergency Chairman’s Report” assailing the mail ballot bill, saying it would increase voter turnout of “Lower Propensity Voters” and could give Democrats an edge in the election.
Flathead County Election Administrator Debbie Pierson, a Republican, who traveled to Helena to testify in support of the mail-ballot option, said it would have saved her department between $50,000 and $75,000 because of the expense of staffing 42 polling stations with 270 judges, among other costly logistics.
Statewide, an all-mail ballot election could save counties a total of $500,000, she said, while the logistics of organizing an adequately staffed election present numerous challenges.
Still, she said voters should have the best information available to help them cast their ballots either in person or by mail.
Pierson reminded Montana voters that new registrants or voters who have moved or changed their name should complete a new voter registration application — in person or via mail — with their county elections office prior to 5 p.m. on April 25.
Beginning April 26, all registration — for new voters and voters with name or address changes — must be done in person at local elections offices. During “late registration,” voters will receive a ballot. Late registration closes Wednesday, May 24 at noon.
Voters who do not have changes to their registration but who would like to receive a ballot in the mail and are not already signed up for an absentee ballot must complete an absentee ballot request by Wednesday, May 24 at noon.
Pierson also clarified that the failure of SB 305 did nothing to affect current absentee voters. They stressed that voters who are on their county’s absentee list — and typically receive a ballot in the mail — will still receive a ballot at their mailing address. Ballots go in the mail Monday, May 1. Voters may confirm whether they’re on the list to receive a ballot in the mail at www.MyVoterPageMT.com.
Voters who intend to vote at the polls on May 25 are encouraged to contact their local administrator to confirm their polling place. Because of the unusual timing of the special election, as well as its proximity to Memorial Day weekend and conflicts with graduations and school programs, many typical locations are unavailable.
For more information, contact the Flathead County Election office at (406) 758-5535.
Voter registration or absentee ballot request forms are available at http://flathead.mt.gov/election.