Officials weigh mail-in voting for November election

Health concerns during the novel coronavirus pandemic have sparked a debate over how to let Lincoln County residents cast their ballots this November.

Election Administrator Leigh Riggleman has recommended that county commissioners allow all-mail voting for the general election. The two spring elections, held in May and June, were similarly conducted via mail.

Riggleman made her case during an Aug. 12 meeting of the board of commissioners. She argued that residents stand close to each other and share pens and paper at in-person polling locations. These forms of contact could lead to an increase in transmission rates of the virus. Riggleman said many election workers in Lincoln County are especially susceptible to COVID-19 as they are over 60 years old.

While all residents would be allowed to cast their ballots by mail if commissioners allowed the all-mail option, in-person voting booths at the Lincoln County courthouse remain open, according to Riggleman.

Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) told Riggleman he had received many calls from his constituents who want to cast their ballots in person. For those living in Eureka, he said, the 71-mile drive to the polling location in Libby would prove an inconvenience.

Commissioner Mark Peck (D-1) agreed with Letcher and said officials would have to provide an in-person station for Eureka residents.

“The governor allows people to sit at the bar and drink with no mask but yet we can’t provide people the ability to go vote,” Peck said at the meeting. “I just have a real issue with that.”

Riggleman said deposit boxes for ballots would be available in Troy and Eureka. Adding more polling locations, however, hinged on the number of election judges available, she said. According to Riggleman, 43 judges confirmed their willingness to work during the pandemic. She approximated that 12 would be needed for each polling station.

Commissioners were hopeful that the pool of judges would increase before election season. Peck said county employees may be asked to serve and Letcher mentioned that many of the residents who called him were interested in becoming judges.

Some residents, including Jennifer Curtiss, who spoke at the meeting via conference call, voiced opposition to the all-mail voting option. Curtiss said that the Lincoln County Republican Central Committee voted unanimously to oppose mail voting during an Aug. 11 meeting.

Bobbie Stoken also called in to express her objections to voting by mail.

“We can wear masks and socially distance pretty well by now so I think we could do it through voting time, too,” she said.

State Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-Libby), who was present in person at the commissioner’s meeting, said he was in favor of adding drive-thru voting stations.

According to Riggleman, county commissioners may issue an objection to her plan to conduct the general election by mail. The objection must be made no later than 55 days before the election.

Riggleman, who administered mail-in voting during the June primary, said the state saw a larger than normal turnout during that election. A significant number of voters in Lincoln County failed to update their mailing addresses, however, which led to many undelivered ballots being returned to election officials.

Gov. Steve Bullock issued a directive on Aug. 6 that allows counties to expand early voting and voting by mail in the November election.

If Lincoln County officials were to restructure voting along the guidelines of the directive, regular voter registration could be extended until 10 days before the election. Election administrators would be allowed to provide ballots from Oct. 2 until the end of the election. Ballots sent out via mail on Oct. 9 would not require postage to be mailed back.