Clerical mistake causes Kalispell municipal ballot error
A roll of "I Voted" stickers at the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Nov. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The Flathead County Election Department on Tuesday said a clerical error caused an undetermined number of ballots in the Kalispell municipal election to be distributed to the wrong voters.
The ballots mailed out in October appear to have been issued to voters based on previous ward boundaries after the department went through changes to its computer system earlier this year.
“It was an administrative error because the correct data didn’t get inputted,” Election Administrator Debbie Pierson explained. “We want people to understand what’s happening and know that this was an administrative issue.”
The Kalispell City Council updated its ward boundaries in late 2021 based on changes in the city’s population following the 2020 Census. Kalispell has four wards, with two councilors representing each ward.
On Tuesday, Election Day, the county election department said the error was still being investigated and therefore the number of ballots affected was unavailable.
Voters were being advised to continue casting ballots as issued.
Based on state law, a candidate could contest the results of the election in district court and has until five days after the results are canvassed by the county to do so.
The error came to light from a candidate who reported speaking with a voter whose ballot appeared to be incorrect, according to the county.
Flathead County commissioners in November are set to approve newly created countywide precinct maps. Election officials note that the maps include the changes in legislative boundaries, annexation records and new ward boundaries, and therefore the error will be corrected moving forward.
Kalispell voters were to decide four seats on the City Council. Incumbent Sid Daoud in Ward 4 was the only candidate running unopposed.
In Ward 1, incumbent Kari Gabriel faced challenger Wes Walker. Incumbent Sam Nunnally was running to retain his Ward 2 seat over challenger Gabriel Dillon. In Ward 3, incumbent Ryan Hunter was being challenged by Kevin Aurich.
All four Kalispell wards vote at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center building. Polls were open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.