All systems go for voting on Tuesday

The Flathead County Election Department tested its voting systems on Friday with a check-up that was open to the public, and all systems are go for Tuesday’s general election.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters should note that redistricting may have changed their precincts and legislative districts, according to the county website.

Voters should verify their precinct numbers and voting sites by clicking on the “My Voter page” app on the Election Department website. Using this app also will tell voters which legislative districts they are in.

Election workers reported brisk activity on Friday from people lined up for absentee ballots and various other voting questions. And there’s still time for people to cast absentee ballots in Flathead County.

Absentee ballots can be filled out at the election office, located during election season at the Country Fair Kitchen at the county fairgrounds in Kalispell. Those not registered to vote can do so until noon on Monday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

As of Friday, 18,671 absentee ballots had been issued and 12,043 ballots had been returned. The county has roughly 62,000 registered voters.

If late voters have moved within the county or have moved here from another Montana county, they will fill out provisional ballots that won’t be counted until a week after the election.

There’s only one contested Flathead County government race. Republican Phil Mitchell is running against Democrat Stacey Schnebel for the open District 1 county commissioner seat.

In other county races, unopposed incumbents — all Republicans — include County Attorney Ed Corrigan, Treasurer Adele Krantz and Sheriff Chuck Curry.

Republican Jack Eggensperger is running unopposed for county Superintendent of Schools. He will replace Marcia Sheffels, who is retiring.

Republican Debbie Pierson, the current county grantwriter, is unopposed for Clerk and Recorder. She will replace Paula Robinson, who is retiring.

An unusual contested race is on for the nonpartisan county Soil Conservation District supervisor positions. Four candidates — Ron Buentemeier, Verdell Jackson, Mark Siderius and Bob Storer — are seeking three available positions.

Voters will decide a Flathead County referendum that would organize a special district to provide funding for emergency dispatch and supporting communication services, equipment and infrastructure. The assessment would cost residential homeowners $25 a year and businesses would pay $50 per commercial unit.

Kalispell voters will weigh in on a couple of ballot measures.

They will be asked whether they support a Kalispell city levy to generate $736,000 annually for emergency medical services.

Voters within Kalispell Elementary School District 5 will decide whether the district should buy 25.4 acres on Airport Road for $420,000. The land would be for future school expansion.

There’s a full slate of state legislative contests, two races for Montana Supreme Court justices, one for Public Service Commission and the high-profile U.S. races for Montana senator and representative.

Add to that a legislative referendum on whether to continue late voter registration and voters will have plenty to decide on Tuesday.

For sample ballots and other voter information, go to the county website at flathead.mt.gov or the Montana Secretary of State website, http://sos.mt.gov, and click on My Voter Page.

Coverage of election races and issues is available at www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_elections.