Authorities disagree on where to remedy ballot problems
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ST. IGNATIUS — Irrigators experiencing problems with their ballots in the ongoing elections for Mission, Flathead or Jocko Irrigation District will need to contact different governmental offices to remedy the concerns, depending on the nature of the issue, though authorities can’t agree on who some of the problems should be directed to.
Many irrigators have reported problems with their ballots in the elections for Mission, Flathead, and Jocko irrigation district commissioner, according to Flathead Joint Board of Control Administrative Assistant Johanna Clark.
Irrigators are given a vote based on the number of irrigable project acres that they own.
“Our reports are only updated once per year,” Clark said. “I will receive project reports this year with all the subdivision changes, sales. If anybody had activity, if your irrigators bought land, sold land over 2014, these ballots do not reflect that.”
Clark said her office cannot fix the problem. County officials also say they don’t have the resources to remedy issues regarding correct assessment of irrigable acres.
“If there are questions on the number of acres that are listed, then they need to contact the project,” Lake County Election Administrator Kathie Newgard said. “We get that from the project. We have nothing to do with how many acres are classified as irrigable.”
Bureau of Indian Affairs officials said anyone can call and ask about status of their irrigable acres, but that they believe the irrigation district and Clark should be the first point of contact for solving the issues.
Newgard’s office can help if people don’t think they’ve been mailed the proper ballots.
“Some people have 10 parcels, they will get 10 different ballots,” Newgard said. “We do get some returned as undeliverable.”
Newgard said irrigators should note that ballots have to be in the election office by 8 p.m. on May 5.
“The postmark means nothing,” Newgard said. “Don’t mail it on Election Day because it will not be counted.”
