The Lake County Election Office is mailing absentee ballots for the June primary election to 13,650 voters Friday. That compares to 12,300 ballots mailed in 2024.

The election office and polling places across the county will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2. Same-day voter registration is available from 7 a.m.-noon at the office, located in the courthouse annex at 500 First St. East in Polson; the office will also be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and on the Saturday before the election, May 30.

According to election administrator Toni Kramer, there will be no registration activities on the Monday prior to the election.

When registering to vote, adults 18 and older will need a current and valid photo identification. In addition to a driver’s license, those could include a school district or postsecondary education photo ID or a tribal photo ID. Other qualifying documents include a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the individual’s name and current address. 

To vote in person, they must show a current, valid photo ID, which could include a driver’s license, passport, tribal or military photo IDs. 

Forms are available online or at the election office for those who wish to be added or removed from the list of absentee voters. Those who vote absentee must also include their birth year on the back of the signed envelope that contains their ballot.

Voters can visit the state election website, votemt.gov to see if their voter registration has lapsed or is current, or check with the election office, 406-883-7269. They can also view sample ballots and check the status of their ballot at the state portal.

Federal, state races see most action

Democrats and Republicans will find few contested races at the local level, with most of the action happening in races for the Legislature and U.S. House and Senate.

Two Polson residents, Republicans Jesse Hernandez and William Mitalski, filed against long-time Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron. Incumbent office-holders – all Republicans – are the sole candidates for the remainder of the courthouse’s elected positions.

A heated race for the Statehouse has emerged between Republican incumbent Linda Reksten and political newcomer Finley Warden, who are both vying to represent Polson in House District 13. The winner will face another newbie, Democrat Dalton Bradford, in the general election.

Republicans will also choose between incumbent Annie Bukacek and David Sanders and Joe Dooling in the race for Public Service Commission, District 5. At the federal level, the primary pits Republicans Lee Calhoun, Charles Walking Child and Kurt Alme against each other for the U.S. Senate seat held by Steve Daines.

The race to take Rep. Ryan Zinke’s place in the House features four candidates: Al “Doc” Olszewski, Aaron Flint, Christi Jacobsen and Ray Curtis.

On the Democratic ticket, Rep. Shelly Fyant’s primary opponent in House District 91, Rustin Bielski, has dropped out of the race. That district includes portions of Lake, Missoula and Sanders County.

However, incumbent Thedis Crowe, who represents HD 15, faces Adrien Owen Wagner of Heart Butte in the primary; and two Democrats, Tyson Running Wolf of Browning and Jade Heather Ackerman of Cut Bank, are seeking to replace retiring Sen. Susan Weber in Senate District 8, which also encompasses portions of the Flathead and Blackfeet reservations.

Democrats will also choose between four candidates aspiring to take Zinke’s seat as the Western District representative in Washington, D.C.: Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, Matt Rains and Sam Forstag. On the Senate side, voters will choose between Michael Hummert, Alani Bankhead, Michael Black Wolf and Reilly Neill.