Primary ballots to be mailed this week

Absentee ballots for the June 7 primary election will be mailed out Friday and late voter registration begins today in Flathead County.

Flathead County Election Manager Monica Eisenzimer said Monday that her office will mail out over 16,000 absentee ballots, roughly twice the number sent during the 2008 primaries.

Ballots can be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the temporary election office at the Country Kitchen at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Ballots must be returned by June 7.

Each voter who requested to vote absentee will receive two ballots — one with Democratic candidates and one with Republicans.

Montana holds open primaries, meaning that voters can vote in either contest (regardless of their party affiliation) but not both.

Ballots will include federal, state and local races, including Republican primaries in Senate District 3 and House District 11 in the Flathead.

In addition, there is a primary contest for Flathead County commissioner, where incumbent Pam Holmquist is being challenged by Tim Harmon.

Despite Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump being the party’s presumptive nominee, the names of four other presidential candidates — Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Marco Rubio — will appear on the ballot.

Those not registered to vote or voting in a different district can register late at the county fairgrounds location up to and including June 7.

Flathead County voters can view a sample ballot or find out if and where they are registered by visiting the “My Voter Page” at app.mt.gov/voterinfo.

To find additional general voting information, visit the county election department website, flathead.mt.gov/election.

Contested primaries for state and local offices are:

Governor/Lt. governor

• Steve Bullock/Mike Cooney (D)
• Bill McChesney/Mike Anderson (D)
• Greg Gianforte/Lesley Robinson (R)
• Terry Nelson/Niki Sardot (R)

Senate District 3

• Don Kaltschmidt (R)
• Keith Regier (R)

Senate District 7

• Terry L. Caldwell (D)
• Elizabeth Retallick (D)
• Mark Sheets (D)
• Glenn Ferren (R)
• Jennifer Fielder (R)

House District 1

• Bill Clark (R)
• Steve Gunderson (R)

House District 11

• Jean K. Barragan (R)
• Derek Skees (R)

Flathead County commissioner

• Tim R. Harmon (R)
• Pamela J. Holmquist (R)

Supreme Court Justice No. 3

• Kristen Juras
• Eric Mills
• Dirk Sandefur