Election by acclamation can save thousands for communities

Thanks to the 2017 Montana Legislature, four Lincoln County communities saved what an election officials said was a “considerable” amount of money this year when seven candidates for municipal office ran unopposed and were elected by acclamation.

“The Montana Legislature did pass (House Bill 83) to allow for candidates to be elected by acclamation,” Lincoln County Election Administrator Leigh Riggleman said via email. “However, for example, if the city of Libby had only had three candidates file (for three open City Council seats), they would have been elected by acclamation. We have to look at the ‘vote for’ to determine.”

In the Libby race Riggleman referred to, an election was held because four people filed to run for three available seats.

In an election by acclamation, the candidate is not put on the ballot, the election for that office is canceled and the candidate assumes the office at the start of the next term.

The candidates in Lincoln County elected by acclamation were Mayor Brent Teske and Council Member Angel Ford in Libby; Council Member Shawna Kelsey in Troy; Mayor LeeAnn Schermerhorn and Breean C. Reyes in Eureka; and Patsy Reece and Gerry Frost in Rexford.

Attending the Nov. 15 meeting of the Lincoln County Commission to have the county’s Nov. 7 election canvass approved, Riggleman said the point of election by acclamation is to save money because “90 percent of the time there is no competition” for office.

“So (the candidate) can be slotted in and the cities and towns don’t have to spend $3-$4-$5,000 on an election,” she told the Commission. “It’s saving taxpayers’ money.”

Riggleman noted that election by acclamation does not apply to county or federal elections.