In case voters haven’t noticed the campaign signs sprouting across Lake County or the ads proliferating on TV, election season is in full swing.

According to Election Administrator Toni Kramer, ballots will be available beginning Monday, Oct. 5, at the Election Office in the Dave Stipe Annex in Polson for early voting and will be mailed Friday, Oct. 9, to voters who are on the active absentee list.

“As always, I encourage voters to check their registration information at voterportal.mt.gov to make sure their information is current,” said Kramer. "If changes are required, please complete and return a Montana Voter Registration Application to our office."

Only active absentee voters will automatically be mailed a ballot on Oct. 9. Those who are listed as inactive absentee on the voter portal will need to update their registration before a ballot can be mailed to them.

A new law, passed in 2025, requires voters to provide their birth year in addition to their signature when returning their absentee or mail-in ballot. Voters whose ballots are rejected because of a missing birth year or a signature issue will be contacted by election officials by mail. If contact information, such as a phone number or email address, is on file, election officials will also attempt to reach the voter for ballots received prior to Election Day. Voters should respond as soon as possible to resolve any issue with their ballot.

Late registration begins Oct. 6. From then through Election Day, all registration changes must be made in person.

Voters who are not on the active absentee list will need to vote in person unless they request an absentee ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon Monday, Nov. 2. After that deadline, voters will need to vote at their polling place.

Voter information pamphlets will arrive in mailboxes soon and are also available at the Election Office.

The office is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays for early voting (closed Monday, Oct. 12) and from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3 – as are all polling places.

For more information on precincts, polling places, election hours, absentee voting or registration, visit the Lake County Elections webpage at www.lakemt.gov/170/Elections or check voter information at voterportal.mt.gov.

Who’s on the ballot?

Lake County voters will choose between four candidates to replace U.S. Senator Steve Daines: Republican Kurt Alme, Libertarian Kyle Austin, Democrat Alani Bankhead and Independent Seth Bodnar. Jami Dee Woodman is the sole write-in candidate. 

In the race to capture the House seat held by Republican Ryan Zinke, voters will choose between Democrat Sam Forstag, Republican Arron Flint and Libertarian Nick Sheedy.

The race for Public Service Commission, District 5, pits incumbent Republican Annie Bukacek against Democrat Kevin Hamm.

Two Flathead County District Court judges are seeking a seat on the Montana Supreme Court: Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson. Closer to home, District Court Judges Molly Owen and John Mercer face no challengers in their efforts to retain their seats in District 20, which encompasses Lake and Sanders counties.

Voters in District 6, spanning much of the east and west shores of Flathead Lake, will choose between incumbent Senator Mark Noland, a Republican, and Democrat Patrick Fitzpatrick. On the ballot for Senate District 8, which sweeps from Browning to St. Ignatius, are Democrat Tyson Running Wolf and Republican Christopher Paul Buckles.

Four House seats are up for grabs this year. Two political newbies, Democrat Dalton Bradford and Republican Finley Warden, face off in Polson’s House District 13, following a contentious primary that saw Warden defeat incumbent Linda Reksten for the Republican slot on the ticket.

Democrat Cindy Bruckner challenges incumbent Republican Tracy Sharp in House District 12, which encompasses Finley Point, Big Arm and Swan Lake on the east side of Flathead Lake and goes from Big Arm to Rollins on the west shore; and incumbent Democrat Thedis Crowe of Heart Butte takes on Ralph Foster of St. Ignatius in District 15, which straddles the Blackfeet and Flathead Reservations.

Two Arlee residents – incumbent Democrat Shelly Fyant and Republican Charles Headley – vie to represent House District 91, which includes Ravalli, Dixon, Arlee and portions of the Rattlesnake Valley in Missoula.

There are no contests at the county level this year, since all Republican incumbents are running unopposed (although their names will appear on the ballot). That means Commissioner Bill Barron, County Attorney James Lapotka, Shariff/Coroner Don Bell, Clerk and Recorder Kendra Steele, Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Hall, Treasurer Rebecca Maso and Justice of the Peace Rick Schoening retain their seats.

What’s on the ballot?

Constitutional Initiative 133 would amend the constitution to secure “impartial, predictable, open and timely processes for ballot issues.”

If approved by voters, CI-33 would ensure that petitions and ballot statements be approved within 90 days of submission, and legal issues must be resolved before the deadline for finalizing ballots. It also requires the state to allow ample time for signature gathering, prohibits the disqualification of petitions due to minor technical issues, and allows voters to withdraw signatures if they choose. It also would prohibit the state from using government resources to support or oppose a ballot measure.

Proponents believe the initiative would diminish hurdles to the practice of “direct democracy” in Montana by safeguarding the ballot measure process; opponents say enshrining the referendum process could open the door to “endless litigation.”

CI-132 would amend the Montana Constitution to require that judicial elections remain nonpartisan. It’s a response to recent attempts by Republican legislators to allow judicial candidates to declare their party affiliation.

In an opposition statement, the state GOP said Montana should retain judicial elections, “but reform them to be free, fair and honest by allowing candidates to run with a political designation if they so choose.”

On the other hand, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath argues, “It’s simple – judges should be elected based on their record and qualifications alone.”

Initiative 194, called the Montana Plan, would rein in the powers of “artificial persons” to influence elections by prohibiting “non-profits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations” from contributing to campaigns, including those supporting or opposing candidates, political parties or state or local ballot issues.

If passed, those who violate the initiative would forfeit “all privileges to do business in Montana.” The initiative would not apply to the distribution of news, commentary or editorial content, and excludes the state of Montana, political subdivisions, individuals, political committees and public corporations.

Supporters say it would help curb election spending, eliminate anonymous money that gets funneled to campaigns “and put Montanans’ voices back at the center of our democracy.” Opponents, including the Montana Chamber of Commerce, say it would exclude Montana businesses and nonprofits from participating in the political process.

Polson voters will have an opportunity to vote for or against amending the Polson City Charter, based on recommendations from the Local Government Review Study Commission.

Also on the ballot for residents of the Rollins Rural Fire District is a permanent annual levy of $175,000, or approximately 15.74 mills, to help improve fire protection and resources for the all-volunteer department.