By Brenda DeGrazio, Florence
After Governor Bullock’s action to allow the counties the decision to hold mail ballot elections, National Republicans and the Montana Republican Party filed a lawsuit to stop voting by mail in Montana. This is total nonsense! As a nurse-midwife living in Ravalli County and working in Missoula, I would have missed the opportunity to vote in many elections as I would often be at the hospital for 24 hours or more.
It is upsetting to watch Sen. Daines and the Republican Party politicize every aspect of our election. We held a mail ballot election in June and had record voter turnout. I have voted by mail for years and appreciate the convenience. Giving Montana counties the option to hold mail-in ballot elections is safe and smart, especially in the midst of a pandemic. I thought state rights was part of the Republican platform — why does there always seem to be a double standard?
To be clear, Bullock made this decision after a bipartisan group of county election officials asked him to do so for the sake of our state’s health and safety — which I appreciate. Senator Daines is clearly hard pressed to run on his record as evidenced by his blatant and false ads against the governor, which are easily disproved by Bullock’s record! Daines and his allies worship power and money, and we the people suffer the consequences.
Senator Daines, DO YOUR JOB and condemn this lawsuit!