Montana’s primary election is Tuesday, when voters will decide party nominees at the federal, state and local levels.

The state’s open primary system allows registered voters to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary regardless of their party affiliation.

Late voter registration continues up to and including election day.

Registration forms can be picked up and turned in at the Flathead County Election Department’s temporary location in the Country Kitchen Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday night.

Those still holding on to their absentee ballots can drop off their completed ballots at the election office at the fairgrounds.

Voters can view sample ballots and can check their registration status, legislative districts and polling places by visiting the state’s “My Voter Page” at myvoterpage.mt.gov.

For more information, contact the county election department at (406) 758-5535 or visit flathead.mt.gov/election.

In Flathead County, voters will choose between Republicans Pam Holmquist and Tim Harmon for county commissioner in District 2, the one seat up for election on the three-member governing body. Commissioners must reside in their districts, but the elections are countywide.

Holmquist is running for a second six-year term. The longtime Evergreen businesswoman says she has made good on her campaign promises from 2010, focusing on smaller government, lower taxes and fewer regulations.

Listing her successes over the past 5 1/2 years in an interview with the Daily Inter Lake last month, she included her property owners’ “bill of rights,” which was included in the 2012 county growth policy, along with her role in restoring county planning control in the Whitefish “doughnut” area.

She said she has voted against most property tax increases, with one notable exception being the county’s decision to levy the maximum number of mills to create a fund for a new jail, which she considers a pressing need.

Regarding the equipment upgrades and ongoing maintenance needs for the 911 consolidated dispatch center, Holmquist said none of the current commissioners had a hand in how the funding — or lack thereof — was set up. A study is underway to identify an equitable long-term funding source.

Along with support for small businesses, she said an open-door policy and accessibility to the public have been hallmarks of her time in office.

Harmon has worked as the Flathead County Fairgrounds maintenance supervisor for the past 14 years.

Speaking with the Daily Inter Lake last month, Harmon criticized the sitting commissioners for failing to take a proactive approach to challenges including long-term overcrowding at the county jail and an unpopular funding approach to the dispatch center.

“How did it get to this point?” he asked. “Our elected officials did not know” years ago to begin planning for a bigger jail?

Harmon favors the latest plan of determining if the County Attorney’s Office space that’s being vacated in the Justice Center could be used to house jail inmates.

If that space is deemed feasible, Harmon wants to use a portion of the $5 million already set aside for a new jail to remodel the County Attorney space, and use the rest to address the 911 center equipment and operational and maintenance needs.

He said he believes the county should seek assistance from the state for a new jail, possibly in the form of a low-interest loan.

Increased transparency is one of his goals, and he wants to hold some public meetings in the evening at bigger venues to allow working people to attend.

The Republican commissioner nominee selected by voters on Tuesday will face Democrat Eileen Lowery, a retired mental-health recovery center director, in the Nov. 8 general election.

Senate District 3, which includes Whitefish, the West Valley and the far northwest corner of Kalispell, also features a race between two Republican candidates.

Kalispell Rep. Keith Regier currently represents House District 4 and cites his experience as a four-term legislator and member of the Republican leadership in Helena as his strengths. The current House majority leader and former majority whip says his top priority if elected is to lower taxes.

Whitefish businessman Don “K” Kaltschmidt also is seeking the Senate seat. In his first campaign for public office, he said he believes a change in Republican leadership is needed in the Legislature and said his successful private-sector experience and ability to forge compromises are assets he would bring to Helena.

The Republican nominee will face Democrat Melissa Hartman of Whitefish in the November general election.

House District 11 features another Republican primary between candidates Derek Skees and Jean Barragan.

The district extends north from the Flathead/Lake county line along the west side of Flathead Lake to south Kalispell. It includes Lakeside and Somers, along with part of the Lower Valley west of the Flathead River.

Seeking to return to the Legislature after serving one term in the House in 2011, Skees touts his familiarity with the legislative process and his outspoken conservative convictions as evidence that he would be an effective Republican legislator.

He wants to lower property taxes, eliminate the state’s general fund surplus and repeal major legislation including Medicaid expansion and the water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Barragan is a longtime Lakeside resident and public instructor currently teaching at Flathead Valley Community College. If elected, she says she would work on lowering property taxes and increasing transparency in state-administered grants, and would support state funding for more drug treatment centers.

Kalispell Democrat Eileen Bech will face the winner in the general election.

Those headed to the polls west of the Flathead Valley will decide three additional primary winners.

Senate District 7 covers a large swath of Northwest Montana, from Marion west to the Idaho border and south past Superior and Alberton.

Incumbent Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, is running for a second term against Republican Glenn Ferren of St. Regis.

The GOP nominee will face the winner of a three-way Democratic primary among Terry L. Caldwell of Paradise, Elizabeth Retallick of Hot Springs and Mark Sheets of Thompson Falls.

In House District 1, which includes Libby and Troy, Libby Republicans Steve Gunderson and Bill Clark are competing to run against Democrat Steve Haarstick of Troy.

House District 13 includes Marion, Thompson Falls, Heron and Noxon. Trout Creek Democrats Debra J. Achatz and Gerald Cuvillier both are seeking the opportunity to face incumbent Rep. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, in the general election.

Gubernatorial candidates from both major parties face contested primaries.

Challenging incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney are Bill McChesney and his running mate Mike Anderson.

The Republican gubernatorial race features Greg Gianforte and his running mate Lesley Robinson against Terry Nelson and Niki Sardot.

Candidates in the statewide elections for Montana’s U.S. House seat, secretary of state, state attorney general, state auditor and school superintendent are unopposed in the primary election.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.