Legislation would allow counties to conduct special Federal Election by mail
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Montana’s county election administrators and county officials are anticipating an upcoming special federal election. Montana’s only member of the U.S. House, Representative Ryan Zinke, has been tapped by President Trump to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. If and when Zinke resigns his congressional seat, Montana Governor Steve Bullock is required to call a special federal election to fill the seat. That election must occur between 85-100 days of Zinke’s official resignation date.
Blaine County Election Administrator Sandra Boardman said, “Each of the three recognized parties in the state, Republican, Democrat and Libertarian, will provide the name of their party’s candidate to be on the official ballot to fill the congressional seat. Those names are chosen by the respective parties.” The big concern for county election officials and county budget makers is how to pay for this special election.
What is the cost of a special election?
Boardman said, “I’m not sure that all citizens of Blaine County understand that the cost of state and federal elections falls totally on each county—there are NO state or federal funds that help pay for elections.” Boardman added that the estimated cost to the 56 counties for the 2016 Federal General Election was $3,004,911.82. To conduct the 2016 Federal General Election in Blaine County the cost to county taxpayers was about $27,000.
County costs for a federal election include wages for county employees involved in conducting the election and 40+ election judges who work the polling places. Then there are costs for polling place locations (typically schools, churches or community buildings), polling equipment and costs to meet Americans with Disabilities requirements. Elections that are normally scheduled are budgeted for, this Special Federal Election was not budgeted for.
An economical alternative method of voting:
‘a one-time special election by mail ballot’
Blaine County Commissioners Frank DePriest and Dolores Plumage, along with the membership of the Montana Association of Counties (MACo), support using a mail ballot-only election for the anticipated special election to fill Montana’s lone congressional seat in the U.S. House. Both DePriest and Plumage said since the election was not budgeted, the funds to provide the election would have to be taken from other county programs. All 56 counties are facing budget challenges.
County commissioners and county election administrators see a mail ballot as an economical way to hold the election. For Blaine County, Boardman estimated use of a mail ballot-only would reduce the cost of a special election by about $8,000. Statewide, the president of the Montana Association of Clerks and Recorders estimated a mail ballot-only election would save the taxpayers at least $500,000 to more than a million dollars.
Montana Representative Geraldine Custer, a Republican from Forsyth and a former county clerk and recorder, is proposing a bill that would allow for the one-time mail ballot-only federal election. Some top state party officials, and elected officials, are not in favor of the mail ballot-only method and want a regular federal election with polling places.
What taxpayers can do
Blaine County Commissioners DePriest and Plumage and Election Administrator Boardman believe the state legislators need to hear from their constituents regarding whether a full blown federal election, with polling places, is prudent given the economic hardships Montana counties are facing. Boardman said, “I don’t think the state legislators and state officials are hearing from their constituents on the matter of this anticipated federal election. Maybe add a paragraph regarding that absentee voting is increasing statewide and in Blaine County for the 2016 Federal General Election 57.03% of the total votes cast were by absentee ballot compared to 29.01% in the 2010 Federal General Election. It is evident that voters like voting absentee and have faith in it.”
Boardman added, “ It will be very costly and cause every county to cut some services or programs to fund an unbudgeted election. We believe, along with other county officials that make up the MACo membership, a one-time special election by mail ballot-only makes sense. And we hope taxpayers and voters will let their state legislators know how they feel about the election issue.” (See names of state legislators and how to contact them.)
You can contact these state legislators that represent all or parts of Blaine County: Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, 942-0615 or wolfpointaog@newmont.net; Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, 654-1117 or Sen.mike.lang@mt.gov. Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Rocky Boy, 945-1805 or rep32jwb@gmail.com;-Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, 390-0274 or cjamesknudsen@gmail.com
These legislators serve districts around Blaine County: Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, 265-0990 or russtempel@gmail.com; Rep. Jim OHara, R- Fort Benton, 799-2992 or jamesohara23@hotmail.com; Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, 879-6427 or jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com
