A Primer on Primary Voting in Montana

Blue and Red Voting Political Advocacy and Cause T-Shirt.jpg

By now you should have received your ballot for the 2020 primary election in the mail whether you requested one or not. That’s because in early March, Gov. Steve Bullock used emergency power to declare that Montana’s Primary Election would take place through the mail instead of at polling places. Here’s everything you need to know about voting in the primary:

THE PROCESS

Everyone’s voter packet should have contained ballots for three individual parties: Democratic, Republican and Green. Missoula County’s Montana Senate District 45, also received a Libertarian ballot. Voters must choose which party’s primary to vote in. If someone fills out a Democratic and Republican ballot, neither will be considered. Voters do not have to return their empty ballots with their filled out one. Be sure and place your ballot in the blue privacy envelope before placing it in the main envelope to return it to the county elections office. Ballots that do not include the blue privacy envelope won’t be considered. If you don’t have the blue privacy envelop, visit your county elections office. If you make a mistake or have a problem, contact the elections office.

You’ll want to place your ballot in the mail at least a full week before the June 2 deadline to ensure it gets there in time.

If you still like the feeling of dropping off your ballot at a polling place, the only ones that are open are the county election offices. The Secretary of State is still urging voters to use the mail to return their ballots. Postage is paid and no one needs to add any postage to their envelope.

The races

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are the races your friends and neighbors are likely talking about:

  • With Gov. Steve Bullock termed out, Montana will choose a new Governor in 2020. Republicans Tim Fox, Greg Gianforte, and Al Olszewski are vying for the nomination that will pit them against one of the following Democrats in the fall: Whitney Williams and Mike Cooney

  • But Bullock doesn’t want to be finished with his political career. He surprised everyone this winter by announcing his candidacy for U.S. Senate. He’s running against John Mues in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Republican Steve Daines faces John Driscoll and Dan Larson. Green Party candidates Wendie Fredrickson and Dennis Daneke are also on the ballot.

  • The race for Montana’s lone U.S. House seat: Democratic contenders Kathleen Williams and Missoula’s Tom Winter face off in the Democratic primary. It’s a stacked field on the Republican side: Matt Rosendale, Corey Stapleton, Mark McGinley, Debra Lamm, and John Evankovich. John Gibney is the only Green Party candidate in the race.

  • Montana Secretary of State: Bryce Bennett is the only Democrat running. He will be facing one of the following Republicans: Bowen Greenwood, Christi Jacobsen, Brad Johnson, Forrest Mandeville, or Scott Sales.

  • Closer to home, check out the Missoulian’s 406 Politics section to read about the various House and Senate District candidates in Missoula County

  • In Ravalli County, the Senate District 44 race includes Republican candidates Nancy Ballance and Theresa Manzella and Democratic candidate Margaret Gorski. Click here for each candidate’s pitch in her own words.

For more information about voting, call your local election office or call the Secretary of State’s toll-free voter hotline: 1-888-884-VOTE (8683).

Move to MissoulaTiffany WilliamsVoting, missoula votes, missoula vote, missoula election, missoula primary, montana primary, primary, primary election, mail-in ballot, voting, mail-in vote, absentee voting, politics, montana politics, election