Elections will be held by mail-in ballot | Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Elections will be held by mail-in ballot | Annie Spratt on Unsplash
On March 24, the Lewis and Clark County Commission decided on mail-in elections for the June 2 Presidential primary.
According to the Lewis and Clark County Election website, no polling places will be open for the May 5, 2020 School and Special Purpose District election. The Presidential Primary will also be held with a mail-in.
Residents are asked to “Stay home and vote!”
Registered voters in Lewis and Clark County will have a primary ballot mailed to them on May 8. For individuals not yet registered, they should fill out a voter registration application and mail it by May 26.
The only in-person voting location will be the county elections office, according to Audrey McCue. She also mentioned that the county was considering a drive-by drop-off location. It will be located outside to minimize exposure.
"The average age of election judges in our county is 65," said McCue, according to Independent Record. "This means most of the 300 election judges that help with the election are at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”
Susan Good-Geise is a county commissioner. According to the Independent Record, they are “looking at all available options for doing county business during this difficult time,” and they are “taking this pandemic very seriously.”
She said that elections are an important part of the county government. Moving to mail-in elections are a way to help everyone to participate and vote.
Changing voting procedures to mail-in and drive-by is a method of helping to protect electoral judges as well as the general public.
Gov. Bullock announced he extended closures of schools and businesses until April 24. He also recommends that Montana residents wear cloth face masks when they are in public places.
These measures, along with the change to mail-in or drop-in elections, are adapted in order to “flatten the curve,” according to KTVQ.
Alerts Sign-up