Ballot error shuts down Montana online absentee voting system
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
A roll of "I Voted" stickers at the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Nov. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | September 23, 2024 12:00 PM
When Max Himsl opened his electronic ballot on Friday, he was dismayed to see a candidate missing from the list of options.
Voting absentee electronically while living abroad, Himsl saw that under the options for president, only Republican Donald Trump and Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were listed. Missing was Democrat Kamala Harris.
“I’m upset my democratic process was interrupted,” he said.
Election officials were notified of the error shortly after the Electronic Absentee System that allows certain voters to cast their ballot electronically went live on Friday at 8 a.m., according to the Montana Secretary of State’s Office which reported that the error was isolated to the online system.
“Our team and the vendor quickly investigated and found that only a few voters may have been impacted,” the Secretary of State’s Office said through email. “As a precaution, the Electronic Absentee System has been taken offline until troubleshooting is completed.”
The system was expected to be available to eligible voters later Friday, including those few voters who may have been impacted, the office said.
Flathead County residents, Himsel and his wife are living and working abroad in the United Kingdom. It’s his first time voting absentee this way.
“This is very concerning to me,” said Himsl, who reported the issue to the Flathead County Election Department on Friday morning. Soon after he received an email notifying him that the Montana Secretary of State’s office was aware of and working to correct the error.
The federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act allows certain groups of citizens living overseas including members of the armed forces to vote absentee in elections. Montana residents can do so online through the state’s Electronic Absentee System.
The Electronic Absentee System allows eligible voters to cast their ballot online beginning 45 days before the federal election, which for the general Election Day on Nov. 5, was Friday, Sept. 20.
“This does not affect any other ballots, including those that will be sent by mail,” the Secretary of State’s Office said.
Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].
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