County residents prepare to cast their votes Nov. 5
For those who haven’t cast an absentee ballot in this year’s general election, polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday across Lincoln County.
Polls will close at 8 p.m. There are three polling locations in the county, including:
- Libby – Memorial Center – 111 E. Lincoln Blvd. – Precincts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
- Libby - Lincoln County Election Office, 418 Mineral Ave.; open Election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Eureka – High Road Youth Center – 130 13th Street, Eureka, MT – Precincts 1, 2, 4, 15 and 16;
- Troy – Troy Activity Center, 380 N. 4th Street – Precincts 5, 6, 7, 8, 14;
Voters may drop off their ballot at a secure drop location on Election Day, including at the following places:
Troy Police Department at 301 N. 3rd St. It is open 24 hours.
Eureka Dispatch, 855 US Highway 93 North. It is open 24 hours.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lobby, 512 California Ave., Libby. It is open 24 hours.
Lincoln County Election Center, 418 Mineral Ave. Libby. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mail ballots are due at the Elections Center at 418 Mineral Ave., Libby, by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Remember, postmarked by then does not count – it needs to be at the Elections Center by 8 p.m.
Voters are asked to hand deliver their ballot to the Elections Center if they couldn't be mailed by Oct. 31.
County Election Administrator Melanie Howell said her department is asking voters to drop off their ballots at one of the three secure locations or the election center if possible due to delays with the post office at this time. (Some people say they still have not received their ballots.)
For those heading to the polls, county voters will see the following contests:
President of the United States - Donald J. Trump, Republican; Kamala Harris, Democrat; Chase OIiver, Libertarian; Jill Stein, Green; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., We the People.
U.S. Senator - Tim Sheehy, Republican; Jon Tester, Democrat; Sid Daoud, Libertarian; Robert Barb, Green.
U.S. Representative - Ryan K. Zinke, Republican; Monica Tranel, Democrat; Dennis Hayes, Libertarian.
Governor - Greg Gianforte, Republican; Ryan Busse, Democrat; Kaiser Leib, Libertarian.
Secretary of State - Christi Jacobsen, Republican; Jesse James Mullen, Democrat; John Lamb, Libertarian.
Attorney General - Austin Knudsen, Republican; Ben Alke, Democrat.
State Auditor - James Brown, Republican; John Repke, Democrat.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction - Susie Hedalen, Republican; Shannon O’Brien, Democrat.
Public Service Commissioner, District 4 - Jennifer Fielder, Republican; Elena Evans, Independent.
Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court - Bowen Greenwood, Republican; Erin Farris-Olsen; Roger Roots, Libertarian.
Supreme Court Chief Justice - Jeremiah Lynch, non-partisan; Cory Swanson, non-partisan.
Supreme Court Justice No. 3 - Katherine Bidegaray, non-partisan; Dan Wilson, non-partisan.
State Representative District 1 - Neil Duram, Republican; Dakota V. Adams, Democrat.
State Representative District 2 - Tom Millett, Republican; Brad Simonis, Democrat.
Clerk of the Lincoln County District Court - Tricia Brooks, Republican.
Lincoln County District 3 Commissioner - Noel Duram, Republican; Doug Davies, Democrat; Brian Phillips, Independent. Note: Davies remains on the ballot, but announced his withdrawal from the race due to health issues.
Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder - Corrina Brown, Republican.
Lincoln County Superintendent of Schools (unexpired term) - Suzy Rios, Republican.
Lincoln County Study Commission - Ernest Anderson; John Boyke; Greg Bruns; Eileen Carney; Myka Forster; Mike France; Ramiah Kramer; Steven Lodman; Donna Martin; Jennifer McCully; Maria Stephenson.
Constitutional Initiative 126 - CI-126 amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election open to all voters and candidates followed by a general election. All candidates appear on a single primary election ballot, and the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. The ballot may list a candidate’s political party preference, but a candidate is not required to be nominated by a political party to qualify for the ballot. If candidates are required to gather signatures, the number required may not exceed five percent of the votes received by the winning candidate in the last election. CI-126 applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law.
Constitutional Initiative 127 - CI-127 amends the Montana Constitution to provide that elections for certain offices must be decided by majority vote as determined as provided by law rather than by a plurality or the largest amount of the votes. If it cannot be determined who received a majority of votes because two or more candidates are tied, then the winner of the election will be determined as provided by law. CI-127 applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law.
Constitutional Initiative 128 - CI-128 would amend the Montana Constitution to expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It would prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability. It would also prohibit the government from denying or burdening access to an abortion when a treating healthcare professional determines it is medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health. CI-128 prevents the government from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists someone in exercising their right to make and carry out voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.
More information about elections in Lincoln County can be found at https://lincolncountymt.us/.