BUTTE — A write-in candidate for Powell County sheriff lost by 90 votes in a race in which election judges threw out 238 write-in votes, many because they only included the candidate’s last name.
Sheriff Scott Howard held on to his post with a 994-904 margin over challenger Gavin Roselles, who entered the race in August after losing his job as a deputy due to cutbacks.
Elections administrator Diane Grey tells the Missoulian that a directive to Montana’s 56 counties from Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said write-in ballots with just a last name could not be counted. The oval also had to be filled in.
Grey said 2,341 ballots were cast and 1,142 had write-ins for sheriff. Not all write-in voters understood what they needed to do to have their vote count, Grey said.
Roselle said he’s heard from voters who “feel a little bit disenfranchised” and are urging him to petition for a recount. He is seeking legal advice on whether to pursue a recount. He has five days after canvassing is complete on Nov. 18 to petition for one.
When he launched his campaign, Roselles said he believed that clear voter intent was the criterion for a valid write-in vote so he only put his last name on campaign signs.
He didn’t learn until two weeks before the election that his first name or initials would be required for a vote to count and by then “it’s a little late to revamp your campaign,” Roselles said.