Following discussion at two previous meetings, the Lincoln County Commissioners approved the designation of polling places and drop box locations for the upcoming primary elections.

The primary elections will be held Tuesday, June 2. May 5 is the beginning of late registration for the primary election. Primary absentee ballots will be mailed by May 8.

County attorney Marcia Boris approved the plan.

Here’s the rundown on where voters may cast their ballots as well as locations they may drop off absentee ballots.

Designated polling places

Libby - Memorial Center, 111 E. Lincoln Blvd. - Precincts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Election Day hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Troy - Troy Activity Center, 380 N. 4th St. - Precincts 5, 6, 7, 8, 14. Election Day hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Eureka - High Road Youth Center, 1295 2nd Ave. East - Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 16. Election Day hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballot drop boxes

Libby - Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, 512 California Ave.

Troy - Troy Police Department lobby - 301 N. 3rd St.

Eureka - Eureka Dispatch, 855 Highway 93 North

Ballot drop boxes will be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week until Election Day and will be closed on Election Day.

Absentee ballots may also be dropped off at the Lincoln County Election Office, located at 418 Mineral Ave. in Libby, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and during official hours on Election Day (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

Election Administrator Melanie Howell attended the Feb. 11 commission meeting and proposed closing drop boxes in Troy and at the county sheriff’s office in Libby.

Her reasoning included her interpretation that drop boxes had to be staffed by two election judges from the time ballots were mailed through Election Day.

She projected a staffing cost of $18,683.70 as well as limited usage at Troy and the sheriff’s office. Howell said 106 ballots were dropped off in a recent election and about 300 to 400 in the 2024 primary. She said the Election Office received 1,000.

Commissioners and some attendees cited concerns over limiting the availability.

At the Feb. 18 meeting, the matter was discussed again.

District 1 Commissioner Brent Teske said that the matter was brought to the county attorney in June 2025. She then told Howell, after looking at the statutes, the drop boxes only needed to be manned on Election Day. That would include a healthy reduction in expenses.

According to meeting minutes, one election judge, Linda Ralph, said eliminating underused boxes, particularly in Troy, would streamline operations, reduce costs and have minimal impact on voters.

Troy mayor T.J. Boswell was opposed to removing the drop box in Troy.

He cited calls from constituents, convenience for residents and 24/7 access. He also said the location is secure and there hadn’t been any prior issues, according to sheriff Darren Short.

Brian Berreman also voiced his support for keeping the Troy ballot drop box. He talked about concerns about mail service reliability and the need to accommodate elderly residents who may prefer to physically drop off their ballots locally.

April 6 is the last day for regular voter registration for the trustee election. Trustee ballots will be mailed by April 15, according to county election administrator Melanie Howell.

The primary elections will be held June 2. May 5 is the beginning of late registration for the primary election. Primary absentee ballots will be mailed by May 8.

Howell said she strongly encourages residents to check their voter status prior to election day. It can be done online at https://voterportal.mt.gov/WhereToVote.aspx or by calling the office at 283-2302.

For residents seeking to assist in the upcoming June 2 primary election, the county is accepting application for election judges. For more information, call county election deputy Sierra Gustin at 283-2304.

Requirements to be an election judge include being registered to vote in Lincoln County, the ability to work up to a 15-hour day on Election Day, attending a mandatory training session provided by the election administrator and be at least 18 years of age or older.

For more information, see https://lincolncountymt.gov/.

For the sheriff’s position, incumbent Darren Short is being opposed by Libby Police Chief Cody Ercanbrack, Troy Police officer Ian Smith and Marty Dunbar.

Short won primary elections in 2018 and 2022 to secure the sheriff position. Ercanbrack took over as police chief on April 20, 2023, following the departure of former chief Scott Kessel. Smith has served on the Libby and Troy police forces and previously worked in the county detention center.

Also at the county level, District 1 Commissioner Brent Teske is seeking a second term. His opponent in the last election, Stu Crismore, has also declared. Jeff Koskela joined the fray on March 4.

For the county Clerk and Recorder position, Troy resident Crystal Denton will face Libby’s Travis Sigea.

For the public administrator position, incumbent Amanda Eckart will face Libby resident Rocke Gifford.

Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield is running unopposed as is county coroner Roger “Craig” Riddle. County treasurer Sedaris Carlberg is also unopposed.

For school trustee, only one municipality will hold an election - Trego. There are two open seats for a 3-year term and one spot for a 2-year term. Eight candidates have filed, including Stephanie LeDuc-Vanderyatcht, Lee Eggebroten, Leilani Swan, Rob Russell, Heather Brannan, Diane Hackett Carlton, Mark Spehar and Kaitlyn Haugen.

At the state level, three candidates have filed for the House District 1 State Rep. seat. On the Republican side Michelle Bianco is unopposed. Democrats Roberta McCanse and Dakota V. Adams will face each other for their party’s nomination. Rep. Steve Gunderson has termed out and is running for Mike Cuffe’s District 1 Senate seat.

For House District 2 State Rep., incumbent Republican Tom Millett and Democrat Jane Maahs are unopposed in the primary.

For the Senate District 1 seat, Gunderson, a Republican is joined by two Republican candidates,Vince Backen and Neil Duram. Democrat Jonathan Jameson is unopposed.

Federal races appearing on the ballot will include for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and Supreme Court Justice No. 4.

In the Supreme Court race, Flathead County District Judges Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson are running.

Vying for Zinke’s seat on the Republican side will be current Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski, conservative talk radio host Aaron Flint and Ray Flint.

Four Democrats — Ryan Busse, Russ Cleveland, Sam Forstag and Matt Rains — have announced their intentions to run in the primary in the western district.

For Daines’ Senate seat, former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar will run as an independent and Republican U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme filed just before the deadline. Alme has served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana since March 2025. He also served in that role from 2017 until 2020. Republicans Lee Calhoun of Whitefish and Charles Walking Child of Helena also filed.

There are five Democrats running for Daines’ seat. They include Livingston’s Reilly Neill, Michael Black Wolf, of Hays, Michael Hummert, of Helena, Alani Bankhead, of Helena, and Christopher Kehoe, of Missoula.