by Terri Lackey, Stevensville
There seems to be some confusion between an absentee ballot, which needs to be applied for, and a mail-in ballot, which is sent to everyone. An absentee ballot is supposed to be used for people who are “absent” on election day with legitimate reasons. For instance, the military, someone who is in a nursing home or homebound. It was never intended to be for “convenience.” Yes, absentee is done by mail, but that does not make it a “mail-in ballot.” Absentee ballots are supposed to have strict guidelines; they are not for everyone just because you apply. Mail-in ballots are what happened in 2020. Mass mail out at the expense of our tax dollars instead of mass in-person voting with volunteers. And it seems like once something “temporarily” changes, it never goes back to the original intent. Why is that? For decades we have voted in person. It’s not 2020 any longer. Everyone should have gone back to in-person voting except for a small 2% of absentee which is the norm. Why has that not happened? Why did they stay with the expensive route, which we pay for, and choose to continue to mail our ballots? Did you know that 68% in Ravalli County now get absentee ballots?
We’ve been trying to meet with our county employees about getting back to the original intent, but we have been met with much resistance and no explanation that stands on that original intent. Why is that? And because of our efforts to do so, our words have been altered to have a different meaning. When we say no more “mail-in” ballots, we are getting blasted with “you’re taking away the ability of our military and Grandma to vote.” Hogwash! What is going on? Why the pushback? Why the resistance? We have voted in-person for decades. It’s a right and a privilege that is being taken from us with no answer as to why.
So, if you are still signed up to receive an absentee ballot and you do not fit the criteria, and you want to go back to original intent, save our tax dollars and exercise your RIGHT; then call 406-375-6550 to request the form to change your status.
Sometimes doing the “right thing” is not always convenient!
Let’s take back our constitutional rights!
Wayne M Adair says
Typical Republican garbage. Why do rightwingers want to make voting hard? I voted absentee for years when I was working in Gallatin County. My wife voted absentee because it was difficult for her to get time off work on Election Day. Now we are retired we keep voting the same way for the convenience. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Voting is our civic duty. Nothing in the Constitution says voting should be difficult. And mail-in voting is just fine, secure and easy, Let’s keep it that way.