It’s the Republicans’ fault
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Editor,
When our Montana legislators came to Ronan during their transmission break to report the progress they had made on our behalf, one bill in particular stood out: Senate Bill 305. This bill would allow Montanans to vote by mail in our U.S. Congressional election May 25.
Because Ryan Zinke moved on to Secretary of the Interior, our lone U.S. Congressional seat is vacant. We are running a race to fill that seat with Rob Quist, the Democratic candidate; Mark Wicks, the Libertarian; or Greg Gianforte, the Republican. We are less than two months away from May 25, the day you will elect one of these men.
The problem is this: your representative, Greg Hertz, and other Republicans sent SB305 to the House Judiciary Committee on the grounds that the bill had some constitutional problems. However, if you look up this issue, you will see in the case of electing a federal officer, the legislature may allow a mail-in ballot if the legislature votes “yes” to doing so. Rachel Maddox reported the Republicans as wanting to tie up SB305 because too many Democrats would vote in a mail-in ballot.
As we speak, SB305 has been tabled in the House Judiciary Committee, also known as the kill committee. This means no mailin ballot, which is very expensive. Instead, thanks to the Republicans, Montana counties will have to cough up $750,000 to run an election at the polls. And in many counties, there will be difficulties finding a venue because of graduation ceremonies on May 25 that compete for space.
Vote on May 25, and don’t forget who spent all your emergency services dollars on a polling place.
Sheila Bell
Polson
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