Absentee and early votes soar

If the early voting numbers are any indication, this Election Day will be one for the record books in Montana. If not just for Sanders and Mineral Counties.

Jennine Robinson of the Sanders County Clerk and Recorders office said that the office has sent out 2,700 absentee ballots and that they’ve received, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, 2527.

“It has been so busy,” Robinson said. “This is more than double what we usually send out and receive.”

The return rate has also been high with most people actually mailing in their ballots, something which doesn’t always happen, she said.

Robinson said she believes the reason the numbers have skyrocketed has to do with convenience.

“It is much easier for someone to take their time and fill out an absentee ballot at their own leisure,” she said. “This way they don’t have to worry about missing work or standing in lines on Election Day.”

The mad rush to vote showed no signs of letting up on Tuesday either. Robinson said that as of 10 a.m. they had already issued 15 absentee ballots and expected that number to rise as the day went on.

The same can be said for Mineral County as well. Mineral County Clerk and Recorder Katherine Jasper said that the county had issued 700 absentee ballots as of Tuesday morning, which she called “pretty unreal.”

“Usually if we have 180 (absentee ballots) we’re doing pretty well,” she said. “But this has just been absolutely amazing.”

For a person to early vote in Montana, they must fill out an absentee ballot. Individuals can either have them mailed out or can fill them out at the clerk and recorder’s office.

Understandably Jasper said that the clerk and recorder’s office has been swamped in the week’s leading up to Election Day, and the actual day itself has been no exception.

“All the voting places have been pretty steady, we’re expecting a very good turnout,” she said.

Jasper said that they also had 10 late registrations Tuesday morning, and she said they expected probably a couple more.

Montana is one of a few states in the country that allows people same day voting registration, meaning they can register on Election Day and then still vote. Many states require voters to register at least a month in advance.

“We’ve been really busy, but I’m glad to see such a great turnout,” Jasper said.

For full election results check out www.vp-mi.com today (Wednesday) or in next week’s Valley Press.