Montana voters head to polls Thursday

Montana’s special election for its at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives takes place this Thursday, May 25. Polling places — and the Flathead County Election Office — will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Registered absentee voters who haven’t received a ballot must pick one up from the election office, 40 11th St. in Kalispell, by Wednesday at noon.

Voters who still need to register or update their registration can vote at the Flathead County Election office until the polls close May 25 at 8 p.m.

Flathead County Election Administrator Debbie Pierson said that along with the unusual voting day, many voters are still confused as to whether the election is mail-in ballot only, a proposal that was struck down by Montana’s Legislature earlier in the election cycle.

“It’s important to clarify that the polls are open on election day,” Pierson said. “There is a lot of misconception out there that this is a mail-ballot election.”

She also noted that absentee ballots sent by mail have to arrive at county election offices by May 25, meaning it’s too late for residents to vote by mail. Instead, they can turn them in at their polling place or the drop-boxes located outside the election office.

Although the special election takes place on a Thursday, Flathead County officials were able to secure all but one of the typical polling places on short notice. The exception is Precinct 19, which typically votes at the U.S. Army Reserve Building on U.S. 93. Those voters will instead cast their ballots at the Precinct 7 polling place at Hope Church, 436 Birch Grove Road in Kalispell.

For more information or to find a polling place, visit flathead.mt.gov/election or call 406-758-5535.