Not surprisingly, Yellowstone County will be opting to conduct a mail ballot for the November 3 general election, following the Governor’s directive last week that allows counties the option of doing so.
County Elections Director Brett Rutherford pointed out to County Commissioners on Monday that Yellowstone County is very familiar with the process having been conducting mail ballot elections since the 1980s. “I would be all about mail ballots, if for no other reason than for cost savings,” said Rutherford, adding, “My recommendation is to move forward.”
Rutherford will submit a resolution to conduct a mail ballot election for acceptance by the commissioners on Tuesday.
Early voting will start on October 2 and ballots will be mailed on October 9.
Rutherford said it will be very much the same as the primary election which was a mail ballot and all went smoothly. The process is the same as that for absentee voting, and those who want to vote at the polls will still be able to do so at the Elections Office in the Courthouse.
Rutherford said that he plans to increase the number of drop-off locations for ballots, which may include Metra Park. They will still be at Metra Park for late registration but may move there a few days early to serve as a drop off site as well.
County Commissioner Chairman Denis Pitman lauded Rutherford for his past performance saying, “You are doing an amazing, thorough and so incredible job … it would be very hard to cheat the system.”
It was greatly through the urging of the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders and Election Administrators as well as the Montana Association of Counties that Governor Steve Bullock again gave counties the option to conduct a mail ballot election.
The Governor’s directive was issued on Aug. 6 to allow counties to expand voting by mail and early voting to accommodate concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
Rutherford explained that the big concern of the association was whether enough people would show up to volunteer as election judges. They were also concerned about the availability of polling locations, since public schools are traditionally polling locations of choice for most communities, and given the uncertainties related to the coronavirus, schools may say, “We don’t want you here,” he said.
Whether or not they provide mail ballots, all counties will be required to offer in-person voting opportunities and abide by recommended precautions against the virus.
“I am in agreement with our bipartisan election administrators – who are the ones on the ground with the first-hand knowledge of how to successfully conduct an election – that we must protect Montanans’ right to vote, while protecting the public’s health,” Governor Bullock said.
For the primary election, county election administrators managed the change in procedures and experienced an increase in voter turnout compared to previous primary elections. In July, the bipartisan Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders and Election Administrators as well as the Montana Association of Counties requested that Governor Bullock again give counties the option to conduct a mail ballot election in November. Their request stressed the ethical concerns with following standard election procedures, which would produce serious risks for voters and poll workers alike—effectively forcing Montanans to choose between their safety and the right to vote. The election administrators also stressed the chaos that could follow if polling locations are closed at the last minute, or if counties are forced to consolidate polling locations in response to outbreaks.
Counties are encouraged to publicize available options and to work with nonprofit organizations to ensure that all Montanans will have access to a ballot, whether in person, early, or by mail.
The directive largely mirrors the June 2020 primary directive, but also reflects feedback from the bipartisan group of county election administrators who studied the June 2020 primary.
Additionally, the directive provides expanded timelines for voter registration, ballot distribution, and early voting opportunities. The directive extends the close of regular voter registration until 10 days before the election to minimize the need for in-person registration or lines. County election administrators will be able to make ballots available from Oct. 2 until the end of the election. Mail-in ballots will be sent on Oct. 9, and no postage will be required to return ballots by mail.
