Vote by mail legislation causes a debate

In the upcoming special election to replace Ryan Zinke’s seat, a new ballot is being considered by the state legislature that would allow people to vote through the mail.

The way it works is registered voters receive a ballot in the mail and when the ballot is returned, the voter’s signature is verified before the ballot can be accepted and counted towards the election. If a signature does not match, the ballot is rejected.

On one hand, some, including the The Montana Association of Clerk & Recorders and Election Administrators, who oversee the elections, are supportive of the bill because they say it will reduce cost, increase voter turnout and be more efficient.

On the other hand, some believe that the vote-by-mail legislation would increase fraud, set a precedent for future elections and give Democrats an advantage.

Lincoln County Election Administrator Leigh Riggleman believes the mail ballot is simple and the right path to take. Earlier this week, she emailed both Lincoln County Representatives Mike Cuffe and Steve Gunderson as well as State Senator Chas Vincent to urge them to support the bill.

Riggleman claims that the cost savings would be roughly 40 to 50 percent across all counties — the overall cost of the election, she said, is upwards of $2 to $3 million statewide.

“As the Election Administrator and as a taxpayer, I believe that it’s important to save taxpayer dollars whenever we can,” Riggleman said.

Riggleman also said that making sure they have enough election judges and the ability to reserve each polling place locations in an off-election year can be difficult. According to a letter signed by the Association of Clerk & Recorders and Election Administrators, under normal circumstances election administrators have two years to plan for a federal election and arrange for accessible polling places. This special election, they said, will only allow for three months of planning.

Riggleman said that most importantly since this election is unexpected and may not come to the attention of the majority of Lincoln County voters.

“I worry that eligible electors may not be aware of the election and will miss not being able to cast their votes,” Riggleman said.

When asked what the other side of the issue is — Riggleman said that the legislation may set a precedent for allowing other legislation to pass to allow counties to have the ability to run all elections by mail.

“There are those out there that believe mail ballot elections are not secure and fraud is more prevalent, others that believe it will disenfranchise population segments,” Riggleman said.

In a press release issued on Tuesday by the Montana Republican Party Chairman Jess Essmann, Essmann outlines why he believes the legislation would have a negative impact.

“While I believe it has been introduced on behalf of many county commissioners who wish to reduce the fiscal impact to their county budgets of the special election to replace Congressman Zinke, the bill will have long term negative impacts to the future election prospects of Republicans at all levels in Montana,” Essman said.

Essman believes that early mail voting gives Democrats the advantage, citing the 2006 election, during which Senator Conrad Burns lost by 3,562 votes but won the most votes that were cast on election day. Essman also said that the Democratic party in Montana spends more during elections, and the Republican party wouldn’t be able to keep up with the Democrats in the short span of time added to their “inherent advantage.”

As Riggleman said, Essman believes that the bill will set a precedent for all elections to be run by mail.

“I know that my position will not be popular with many fiscally conservative Republican County Commissioners or the sponsor of House Bill 305,” Essman said. “They may be well intended, but this bill could be the death of our efforts to make Montana a reliably Republican state.”

Both sides urge voters to contact their legislators to either pass or stop the mail ballot bill.

To locate your legislator, please visit www.leg.mt.gov.