Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D), on Wednesday, March 25th, issued a Directive aimed at the June 2nd Primary as part of his evolving Emergency Declaration response to the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Unlike other States that have opted to go Full Vote-by-Mail for Upcoming Presidential Primaries, Bullock instead deferred to Montana County Election Officials to make the Call on whether to do the Same in their Primary. Counties can Opt-In, but that comes with some Strings Attached.
County Elections Offices have to make, Early In-Person Voting, Ballots Available to Voters from May 4th through the End of the Election on June 2nd.
Counties that Opt into the Vote-by-Mail System must also have Mailed Ballots to Voters 25 days before the June 2nd Primary, on or before May 8th. This is Consistent with the Regulations regarding Absentee Voting in the State.
Montana Voters retain the Ability to Request Absentee Ballots, but Counties that have Opted into the Vote-by-Mail System will Send Ballots to All Register County Voters.
If a Voter in such a County Votes both Early In-Person and via the Mail Ballot, then the Mailed-In Ballot will be Void and the Early In-Person Ballot will be Counted.
Those Counties that Opt-In have to Submit a Written Plan for how they will Implement the Changes to the Montana Secretary of State. Importantly, Voters and the Counties that Opt-In will also get Financial Relief on Postage.
Counties Choosing to go the Vote-by-Mail Route have to Notify Voters that No Postage is Required to Submit a Ballot. Additionally, Counties may also seek Reimbursement for Postage Costs from the State Government.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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