by Kristin Ashcraft, Florence
I don’t even know where to start with this one. It would be my hope that individuals who like to rant, strike that, complain about standard governmental policies and standards, especially those individuals who are (or have) run for elected positions representing the people of Montana (and Ravalli County), would at least somewhat educate themselves before said rant. A quick search of the Montana Secretary of State website, (so quick it’s the VERY first sentence), that: “[a}ny registered voter may vote by absentee ballot.” (https://sosmt.gov/elections/absentee/) Unlike Ms. Lackey’s mis-informed and outlandish opinion, there is no “criteria” to vote absentee (in Ravalli County or anywhere else in Montana) other than being a registered voter. despite her belief that “[a]bsentee ballots are supposed to have strict guidelines; they are not for everyone just because they apply.” Whether she wants to argue that the option for voting is solely for “military, someone who is in a nursing home or homebound … Grandma” or justify that absentee voting is a product of COVID and now “we” should return to how things were prior is displaced and backwards. The clear intent of MCA 13-13-201 in plain language reads that “any registered voter can vote absentee” (emphasis added). In my opinion, which I do not believe I am alone in holding, wanting society to “return to how things were prior” simply sounds like a way to potentially limit opposing views to those of Ms. Lackey and her husband. Expanding the options to facilitate voting, especially in extremely rural counties like Ravalli County, simply help “Get Out the Vote” and remove many (MANY) barriers to voting in Montana. I myself have voted absentee since I initially registered to vote (many more years ago than I’d like to admit) and will continue to vote in that manner every option I have. Some of us have much busier lives, many more obligations and responsibilities, and do not have the luxuries of soling sending our opinions to the editors as our self-proclaimed hobby.
Open dialogue and constructive conversation are vital and underutilized channels in many areas in this country, but inaccurate, biased and unreceptive individuals, one again, especially those running (or who have run) for elective office are flat out roadblocks to progress, compassionate change, governmental trust and bipartisan improvements within our society. Ms. Lackey is dangerously misinformed and not healthy for Ravalli County or any other part of Montana.