by David Leslie, Corvallis
A recent newspaper article detailed the challenges that election officials face across the state. And I went “Uh oh. Here we go again.”
So let’s head this off at the pass. Ravalli County elections are the best conducted in the state. Period. Regina Plettenberg and her staff run elections that are free, fair and lawful. Every time. And as Regina says “We follow the law. If the law changes, we follow the law.” And in case you don’t know, Regina is the legislature’s go-to expert on elections.
Here’s what we need to stop: Already national MAGA are whining that elections are fixed against them; anything they don’t win is evidence of fraud. What crap! We have been down that road before in Ravalli County and we don’t need to waste time on it again.
The affronts come as seemingly harmless questions about the machines, voter records or the handling of votes. They come as equivalents of one friend saying to another, “Didn’t I see your husband coming out of Jane’s house yesterday afternoon?” Its only purpose is to plant seeds of doubt and mistrust, no matter how innocent it sounds. It is despicable behavior. Claiming the high purpose of election integrity, it damages all of us. It is a tactic employed by losers who know they cannot win free and fair elections.
I will not sit idly by this cycle. And I don’t think you should either.
Here’s what I recommend: First, if you have questions about our elections, sign up to be an election judge. You will get inside instruction on the law, the process, the machines and all the checks and balances Regina employs.
Secondly, if in your presence somebody starts down the innuendo path, challenge them instantly. Be civil, but be loud. Tell them to go peddle that crap somewhere else.
Gomez says
“Key Facts Regarding Legal and Security Investigations:involving Dominion;
Defamation Lawsuits: Dominion filed multiple defamation lawsuits against media organizations and individuals who spread false claims about its machines. In April 2023, Fox News agreed to a $787.5 million settlement with Court Findings: A Delaware judge found it was “CRYSTAL clear” that claims made by Fox News about Dominion were false and defamatory..
2020 Election Security: More than 60 lawsuits alleging election fraud, including those involving Dominion, were dismissed by state and federal courts.
Audits: In 2025, no credible evidence was found that voting machines did anything other than accurately record and count votes.
While some cybersecurity experts have highlighted theoretical vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems generally, there is no evidence that Dominion machines were used to switch, steal, or alter votes in the 2020 election.”
Cav says
There is a mountain of evidence Gomez. Somehow people can hack Banks, Power Companies, Fortune 500 Corporations, Credit agencies, but Because George Stephanopolous tells me Dominion is bullet proof, I believe him! One of my favorite examples was in Puerto Rico, they had to do a complete Hand count because Dominon’s results were CORRUPTED!
Tracy says
You are correct that Regina does an outstanding job and while there was no fraud reported in Ravalli County there are 56 counties in Montana and many others in the other 49 States and not everyone are as diligent as Regina and her Team are. It has been long since proven and reported Nationally that there has been much fraud over the last several election cycles in many States. It is NOT the job of the Election Officer to challenge a voter in any manner let alone loudly. I believe that Regina will agree with me on this.
Gomez says
“It has been long since proven and reported Nationally that there has been much fraud over the last several election cycles in many States.”
By whom? Fox News paid out nearly a billion dollars in 2023 because they lied about election fraud. Newmax paid out 67 million dollars in 2025 for lying about election fraud. OAN agreed to an out out court settlement in 2024 brought against them by Smartmatic rather than taking their chances and going to trial.
So, what is your source that “there has been much fraud over the last several election cycles in many States”? Please be specific.
Thanks in advance.
Tracy says
CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Reuters. Google News, WAPO and UPI etc etc etc. Same places you get all of your information. I have read stories from all of them effectively saying Trump was right “but not as wide spread” Oh I forgot a couple: DOJ and Georgia Election Board. I am not going to do your research for you. You wont do it to prove me wrong. I challenge you.
Gomez says
That is complete bullshit. Link to a specific article please.
Gomez says
In fact, please link to 3 or 4 articles. Thanks.
Cav says
Tracy is spot on. IN fact Georgia was so fraudulent in Fulton County that the numbers prove Neither Orloff to the Reverend would have won their Senate seats, and Trump defeated Biden. Unless you truly believe that 160,000 votes arriving at 2 Am that were 100% fro Biden actually was legit, among other things like double votes, people registered at P.O Boxes and Vacant buildings etc… All Democrats of course.
Howard S. says
BS, the Heritage Foundation (hardly a left-wing outfit) keeps a database of ever example of election fraud they can find since 1982. They list about 1400 proven cases total nationwide between 1982 and 2025. That’s 1400 out of billions of votes cast. And most of them are related to clerical errors or voter confusion (a college student of retiree voting in the wrong precinct by mistake). They have found ~100 cases of non-citizens voting since 1982. Basically, it doesn’t happen. The real goal of any legislation addressing voter fraud (which is essentially non-existent) is to make voting more difficult for certain people, mostly people in urban areas. I’ll let you decide who they’re really targeting.
Cav says
Update. Dominion Systems has been proven to be fraudulent multiple times since Gomez. Try and keep up.