Election Turnout Could Hit 80 Percent

Editor’s note: The following story was written by a student in John B. Saul’s graduate reporting class at The University of Montana. You are free to share or publish this story, provided you retain the reporter’s byline.

VOTER TURNOUT COULD HIT 80 PERCENT BY WILL MELTON The Missoula County Commissioners’ meeting room looks like a tornado has run through it. Scraps of paper are strewn about, tables and chairs are shoved ungraciously to the side and people are either rushing frantically through the room or wandering in a daze. The room has been taken over by the county elections office, which is busy preparing for what is expected to be the biggest election in Missoula history. County Clerk and Recorder Vickie Zeier said she thought there could be a 75 to 80 percent turnout and that the number of registered voters in the county is the highest she’s seen in 15 years running elections. An 80 percent turnout could swamp the 35 polling places countywide, and people should expect lines. As of October 15, Missoula County had 66,653 registered voters who were considered active -- a resident who has either recently voted or registered. The county had an additional 12,119 registered voters who were considered inactive because they hadn’t voted in any recent elections. People can still register and vote at the elections office on the second floor of the Courthouse Annex at 200 West Broadway in Missoula.

Zeier said she was doing everything she could to prepare for high turnout, including hiring around 550 election judges and having as many people as possible in the office on election night to count ballots as quickly and smoothly as possible. After all the votes are in, Zeier will still have her work cut out for her. Votes must be counted, any provisional ballots must be certified or decertified and the vote tallies need to be finalized within a week of Nov. 4. In the end, Zeier feels confident that the elections will go smoothly, though she is worried that an influx of media could be a distraction for voters, poll workers and her staff. She stresses, however, that it is “a concern, not an obstacle.” On Monday, ballots for absentee voters will be mailed out and should start arriving Tuesday in the mail. Ballots must be returned to the election office or any polling place by mail or in person by 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Voters can find their polling places by calling the County Elections Office at 406-258-4751.