Missoula Sends Out 47,000 Ballots for Primary Elections

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Elections Center is sending out over 47,000 municipal primary election ballots on Wednesday, in the races for mayor and three city council wards, specifically 2, 3, and 6.

I spoke with Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman on Wednesday, who told me about the mailing.

Municipal Primary Election Ballots are in the Mail

“Anybody who lives inside the city limits should be receiving a ballot, began Seaman. “I saw mine on my informed delivery from USPS (United States Postal Service) this morning. We're mailing out just over 47,000 ballots, and this will cover anybody in the city limits. Wards two, three, and six are going to be for city council, and anyone in the city will be able to vote for the mayor, so the top two vote-getters for each race will go on to the general election in November.”

Seaman named the candidates for each election.

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There is a Three-Way Race for Mayor

“There's a three-way race for mayor,” he said. “We have our current mayor, Andrea Davis; we have Shane Knopp and Brandi Atanasof, who are challengers for that Mayoral race. These are some familiar names from the past, from the past city elections, but the top two vote-getters for that will go on to the general in November.”

Seaman said there are a number of candidates vying for the seats in wards 2, 3, and 6.

There are a Number of Candidates for Wards Two, Three, and Six

“Wards two and three have quite a field of candidates, with five candidates in both Ward two and Ward three,” he said. “Ward six also has three candidates. So in those different wards, the top two vote-getters will proceed on towards the November election. In November, it will be our final election for all of our city races. So this is to whittle down the field for November.”

Seaman recommends that if you are a city resident and don’t receive your ballot in the mail, contact the elections center.

“We'll get our ballots out today (Wednesday),” he said. “They'll come in the mail. So if you don't see it in the next day or two, please reach out to our office. You can check Missoula votes.com or call us at (406) 258-4751. We want to make sure that voters get those ballots, have a chance to read through them, learn about the candidates, and make an informed decision.”

Seaman said Election Day Voter Registration will be Available

Seaman reminded me that Election Day voter registration will be available.

Ballots must be returned to the Elections office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, September 9, and there will be no polling places open for this mail-only primary election.