Election Day arrives

Election Day finally has arrived.

Most Flathead County polling places open at 7 a.m. today and close at 8 p.m.

Headlining the ballot are choices for U.S. president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative.

Voters also will choose a new Montana governor and attorney general and decide races for secretary of state, state auditor and superintendent of public instruction.

On the local level, two of Flathead County’s three commissioner positions are on the ballot. Although commissioners run in individual districts, all voters cast votes in commissioner races.

Flathead voters also will choose two new District Court judges.

For the Legislature, there are nine contested Montana House races and three contested Montana Senate races.

Five ballot issues and one contested Montana Supreme Court justice race also are on the three-page general-election ballot.

If election officials at the polls determine that you are at the wrong polling place, you have several options, according to the Montana Secretary of State website.

If you arrive at the polling place and are told that the address you provide does not match what is in the register because your residence within the county has changed, you may fill out a card to update your information and vote one time at that precinct and polling place.

You can go to the precinct and polling place where you are currently registered to cast your ballot or go to the election office in the Country Fair Kitchen building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds to update your registration information and cast a ballot there.

For voter information, contact the Flathead County Election Department at 758-5535 or go to http://flathead.mt.gov/election.  

For full previews of local election contests, go to www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_elections.

Up-to-date election results will be available throughout the night Tuesday at www.dailyinterlake.com.