by Sen. Theresa Manzella, Hamilton
Article IV, Section 3 of the Montana Constitution states – “Elections. The legislature shall provide by law the requirements for residence, registration, absentee voting, and administration of elections. It may provide for a system of poll booth registration, and shall insure the purity of elections and guard against abuses of the electoral process.”
Election integrity is heavy on the hearts and minds of your conservative Montana legislators, as well as the vast majority of citizens in our state. Despite passing six good voter integrity laws last session, we have identified many more election-related vulnerabilities in our state statutes that need to be addressed prior to 2022 midterm elections. A lack of confirmation of citizenship, verification of signatures at the polls and timely sharing of death records are just a few of the issues we believe need to be statutorily secured.
Understanding today’s technology and the ability for wireless connectivity on the world wide web, through something as small as a sim card is another area requiring credible, expert counsel. We, therefore, have been petitioning for a special select legislative committee to review our state statutes prior to the midterm elections, to address identified vulnerabilities and secure the chain of custody from the voter rolls to the post-election audit.
Liberal solutions caucus member, Rep. Dave Bedey, HD86, criticized true conservatives for “wasting” taxpayer dollars to secure and guard against the abuses of the electoral process, as is our constitutional directive. His recent editorial about election security is filled with more inaccuracies than a Jon Tester campaign speech. For example, he arbitrarily assigned a cost of one-half million to $1 million to the endeavor, with no basis in reality for those amounts.
But we do know, for a fact, that Rep. Bedey voted to spend $1.6 million on fish cleaning stations, on three Montana bodies of water, as an amendment to HB5. This begs a malodorous question – what is Bedey’s priority? Election security or fish entrails?
Mr. Jeff Jones has stepped up to challenge Bedey in HD 86. I encourage citizens to give Jeff Jones their full consideration.
Allison says
Montana elections are above reproach- our election officials and judges are committed and have been serving for years. The Republican representatives in Ravalli seem to have joined the GOP minority in promoting the lie that our election is compromised. This effort to audit is to keep the misperception alive and in the media- creating mistrust in the system and people agitated. Ms Manzella, a number of folks take issue with your tactics and some politics. If there were any efforts to alter or corrupt the process it is unlikely you would be serving right now. Your community is pretty high needs- I wonder how much time and effort you contribute to meeting that need.
Becky says
Jeff has my vote
Bridget Dolan says
I guess we should question the results of your election then?
Helen Sabin says
Thank you Senator Manzella. Yes, Bedey’s priorities seem to be misplaced. What is a vote actually worth? I submit it is more important than fish cleaning stations! And the vulnerabilities of our modern technology being subject to hacking or other nefarious activities should be strongly recognized and considered. My husband and I were talking about land use while waiting for our meal to be delivered at a local cafe. When the waitress had left all of a sudden SIRI speaks up and says, “…Continue with land use discussion,” on my phone! She and someone else were listening in. IF you think that voting machines can’t be hacked or phones are secure think again.
I spoke with Mr. Jones about his run for the job currently held by Bedey. Jones is a true conservative, and wants secure, safe schools where kids are actually taught reading writing and math along with history of our country, not race and minorities or CRT and social emotional learning. He is concerned about the water use and development going on in Hamilton and the county and like me, wonders where the water will come from to support this expansion of our population. He is gravely concerned about the “older” senior population of this country being forced out of their homes due to the many taxes that are coming up – such as the levy for the college – and the rural way of life disappearing here
in the valley. He would be a great state legislator.
Keep fighting for voter integrity. We have lost our way when it comes to that subject. No more same day registration to vote. No more mail in or out ballots, except for those who have difficulty getting to the polls. No more getting to vote without an ID!
Keep up the good work you are doing! We need more like you in our state legislature. AND SUPPORT THE CONVENTION OF STATES! Let’s put term limits on congress and make the federal government STOP SPENDING money that we do NOT have.