by John Schneeberger, Hamilton
Carl Sagan said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. For Montana supporters of the former President, the Big Lie about a stolen Presidential election is enough evidence to launch witch hunts that have to date produced nothing to suggest that fraud, on the scale and coordination necessary to swing elections, is taking place in Montana. But in order to appease true believers of the big lie, Republicans in the last Montana legislative session banned same day voter registration and passed other laws to make it more difficult for working people, seniors, the disabled, students and tribal members to vote. And they are not finished yet.
A group calling itself the Montana Election Integrity Project, founded by Missoula Rep. Tschida, and abetted by Sen. Manzella, has compiled a hodge-podge of voter mistakes and unfounded accusations to slander Montana elections. Last fall they hosted a regional gathering of Big Lie true believers peddling conspiracy theories. The group made headlines recently with claims that they uncovered a vote overcount in Missoula. That charge should be a matter for the courts to decide but they would rather make their case to the 2023 State legislature instead. There they can use the Republican majority to pass laws to undermine the vote count in Missoula County in 2024.
At least some Republicans, like former Governor Marc Rocicot, with their feet still on the ground, are speaking out.
Reading through their “Synthesis of Missoula County Election Processes”, I am struck by how retail and scattered the alleged violations are. None of the Big Lie true believers has been able to come up with how any of this is evidence of a coordinated conspiracy to throw any particular election, any particular way. The burden of proof a massive conspiracy should be on those making the accusation. Honest, hard-working election administrators shouldn’t have to prove they aren’t rigging elections, especially when so much of their work is transparent to all those sincerely interested in learning about the process. Contact them and learn more. For credible analysis on what is going on, go to the Brennan Center for Justice and the organization Protect Democracy.