Ballots go out Oct. 9

Ballots will be mailed out Oct. 9 to all active and provisionally registered voters in Lewis and Clark County and should begin showing up in mailboxes Oct. 10.

According to a press release from Lewis and Clark County, the election system allows for one active ballot at a time per registered voter. People wishing to vote in person, or who have already voted in person, may still receive a ballot in the mail, however, if a person has already voted in person, the mail-in ballot will be voided by the county's system and it will not be counted.

"It is important to remember that it is illegal to attempt to vote more than once," said Lewis and Clark County Elections Supervisor Audrey McCue. "We understand that some people will need to come in person, and we have the ability to cancel their mailed ballot and provide them with a new one. Attempting to vote both of those ballots is a crime."

The upcoming elections were also discussed at the Oct. 3 Government Day meeting in Lincoln.

During the course of the discussion, Lincoln Postmaster Zach Muse dispelled a rumor making the rounds on social media that adding extra to a ballot returned by mail will make them arrive more quickly.

"They're prepaid. You do not add anything to it," he said. "It does not make anything go faster."

"Be extremely cautious about what you read on Facebook and social media," Commissioner Jim McCormick added. "I would just venture to guess that most of it is bogus."

He advised anyone in Lincoln seeking accurate information about mailing in ballots talk to Muse or visit the Lewis and Clark Elections office website at https://www.lccountymt.gov/car/elections.html.

Muse reiterated that anyone mailing a ballot from Lincoln should get them in the mail here by Friday, Oct. 30 at the absolute latest to ensure they reach the elections office on time. Anyone who hasn't mailed their ballot by that time are advised to drop them off in person at the elections office or at the drop box that will be available at the Lincoln Community Hall from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The general recommendation is to return ballots by mail at least a week prior to Election Day.

According to the county, the Elections Office will continue to mail ballots daily as new registration requests are processed. Within a week people should go to the City-County building in person to request a ballot, if they have not yet voted.

Ballots returned by provisionally registered voter will not be counted until the voter can be verified. People can check their voter registration status at MyVoterPageMT.com.