I've voted by mail for every elections since moving to Colorado in 2009. It's easy, convenient, and economical. Mail-in ballots are especially convenient for rural voters, and voter fraud is extremely rare. The arguments from House Republicans explaining why they do not want mail-in ballots are paranoid rantings, and basically state that they are in favor of voter suppression. Why do Republicans hate democracy so much? What about being "fiscally conservative"? Mail-in ballots will save Custer County tens of thousand of dollars.

Oh, and I'm still waiting to see the evidence from President Trump on "massive voter fraud" during the presidential election.

http://lastbestnews.com/s...publicans/

On a side note, I've read Richards recent posts and agree with him. Outrage from Democrats and facts will not improve our current political situation. But the issue of mail-in ballots should be one of those instances where Republicans and Democrats can find common ground. Save money and allow the maximum number of registered voters to cast a ballot.

Senate Bill 305 had overwhelming bipartisan support from all the county governments who have to pay for holding and staffing the special election. It is such a no brainer, to save money.

Even if we allow these dark money Republicans to have their way and force the counties to hold this election and staff all the polling places for one vote on the ballot, why don't these corrupt individuals provide some funding to counties to do so? Why make the counties pay? Oh, wait....it's because they are corrupt to the core.

Last Best News: Prairie Lights: A new low for state’s House Republicans

By: Ed Kemmick

". . .

Senate Bill 305 was short and simple. It would merely have given county clerks and recorders the authority to conduct an all-mail election to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Ryan Zinke when he became President Trump’s Interior secretary.

Bill sponsor Steve Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Great Falls, told his Senate colleagues, “This bill is the fiscally responsible thing to do at this time. It’s the fiscally conservative thing to do.”

He was referring to estimates from county elections administrators, who said that being forced to conduct regular walk-in voting could cost as much as $750,000 statewide.

That’s a lot of money for a ballot containing exactly one item, and the costs of a traditional election would have to be picked up by the counties. There was also a reasonable concern that having a special election on an unusual day—May 25 is a Thursday—would dampen voter turnout.

The Montana Senate understood what was at stake and approved Fitzpatrick’s bill on a 35-15 vote.

Then the bill went to the House, and it turned out that dampening voter turnout was precisely what Republicans in that chamber were aiming to do.
Why? Because Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, the state GOP chairman, had sent out an “Emergency Chairman’s Report” warning of the dire consequences of allowing citizens to vote by mail.

“All mail ballots give the Democrats an inherent advantage in close elections due to their ability to organize large numbers of unpaid college students and members of public employee unions to gather ballots by going door to door,” Essmann said in the letter.

Democrats have gotten so good at exploiting the use of mail-in ballots, Essmann went on, that if Montana were to adopt all-mail voting, it would threaten “the long-term viability of our Republican Party.”

. . ."

Read more here.

Just another reason why I'll never vote Republican under any circumstance.

I would hate to be Jeff Essmann in a dark hallway at the capitol if Geraldine Custer catches him. Yowch. We will be voting at MCC for the special election here in old Milestown.

Party choice is not the issue. As Montanaians I for one am proud of elected our officials get promoted in Washington known for their hard, forthwrite,honest service for our country. Granted media has exposed voter fraud in other states.
Very unlikely in Montana, Please vote.
It is what makes Montana Great!

It is very disheartening to see how ignorant some of our state representatives are when they are willing to have the counties put out $750,000.00 in order to hold an election just because they are afraid the Democrat candidate might win if we mail in ballots. I always thought part of their position was to be fiscally responsible to the people of Montana.....apparently not!

Colette. They are extremely thrifty when they are not the major benefactors.

Well, here we are again, three years later, after Trumps failed voter fraud committee was disbanded due to the fact that voter fraud is so exceedingly rare that it is essentially non-existent, talking about voter fraud. Trump could never accept the fact that America never wanted him as the President, losing the popular vote by a significant margin.

So, he has taken to Twitter to proclaim, falsely and without evidence, that mail-in ballots cannot be trusted, and any election that uses mail-in ballots is a fraudulent election. It seems he is preparing for his loss in November by casting doubt on the outcome of the election if mail-in ballots are used. A desperate ploy to hold on to power when he loses the election. Typical dictator move. Putin would be proud of his protege.

Twitter put a fact check on Trumps BS rant about mail-in ballot fraud. Trump then claimed his 1st amendment rights had been infringed. Providing facts following a steaming pile of crap twitter post to correct blatant lies is not violating the 1st amendment.



[Edited by tom regan (5/28/2020 9:59:22 AM)]

Good work Tommy, but let's not forget the Liar-in-Chief's latest twitter campaign to suggest the host of an MSNBC program "the Morning Joe", Joe Scarborough, is "responsible" for the death of one of his aides who died from heart related complications and a subsequent fall in 2002 at his office in Florida, while Scarborough was in Washington D.C.

When you think that the Dotard can't get worse than he already is, he doubles down of being a piece of a$$wipe. Wyoming's lone Republican congresswoman, Liz Cheney, has called out the human POS on this.

When Liz Cheney and I agree on anything, you know there is something wrong in the world.

Trump wants voting by mail to be abolished because he knows the majority will vote against him. Simple as that.

Another one of Trump's cronies, with a massive conflict of interest issue, is the postmaster general of the USPS. This could have huge implications during the election. The corruption of this administration is staggering.

"Now, as millions of voters are relying on the Postal Service to support our elections during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump is politicizing another once-nonpartisan government agency. Having a political ally with ethical and competence questions like DeJoy lead the agency potentially puts November's election at risk."

"We can't let Trump get away with his attacks on the Postal Service — and our electoral system. It is incumbent upon Congress, the Postal Service's inspector general and the public to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for DeJoy and his agency's role in facilitating voting by mail in 2020 and beyond."

https://www.nbcnews.com/t...cna1234125

So if it costs you money to send your ballot through the postal service, can we say you are voting by fee mail?

I saw you smile, just a little...

How's construction going on your 23 miles of fence, Richard?

Thanks to the monsoon rain, the river came up and we can't get there right now.

Trump openly admits he is trying to rig the election by attempting to destroy the USPS.

"They want $25 billion for the post office. Now, they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump said. "Now in the meantime, they aren't getting there. By the way, those are just two items. But if they don't get those two items that means you can't have universal mail-in voting, because they're not equipped to have it."

https://thehill.com/homen...ost-office

Why do Republicans hate democracy so much? SAD!

Republicans also hate the Constitution, except for the second half of the second amendment and then only for white guys. The Post Office is Constitutionally mandated and that bugs them. It is an excellent example of what government can do better than private companies but in doing so, it takes profit away from shareholders in private shipping companies.
And, yes, the Post Office is EFFICIENT. It is only in financial trouble because Congress put in a ridiculous pension funding requirement in order to destroy the Post Office.
Republicans hate voting.
Republicans hate democracy.
Republicans hate free speech.
But a racist fascist makes them HAPPY! Especially one who is killing tens of thousands of people through no particular effort. Nice, cheap murder!
I used to be more tolerant of conservatives but since the tRump regime took power and has proved itself vile every single day, my tolerance level has gone down.

It is a misnomer to call the current so-called Republicans conservatives. They are anything but conservative. They are extremist sociopaths or psychopaths.

Article 1, Section 8. Why does Trump hate the Constitution? SAD!

Dozens of Montana USPS drop boxes to be removed
https://nbcmontana.com/ne...es-removed

Besides being a constitutionally-mandated service, 91% of Americans have a favorable view of the Postal Service. What are the Republicans trying to politicize one of the only things we can all agree on?

I bought a sheet of Looney Tunes stamps when I mailed a birthday present to my older brother. I plan to write regular letters to the creep Agent Orange appointed to destroy the Post Office.
Really. There used to be Republicans I respected but NOT any more. If you support Agent Orange, you are a traitor.
Oh, and Custer County is mailing out ballots to all registered voters. I plan to vote mine the day I get it and take it back to court house immediately so tRump's plan will not screw up my voting rights!

If you live in Montana or are a resident for voting purposes and your vote is important to you please do the following.

1. Check Your Registration Status

Check with your local county election official (Clerk & Recorder in most counties)

Or (faster and easier)

Go to the Montana Secretary of State website under Election Services at the top of the page…click on My Voter Page on the right edge (scroll down) https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

Click Start, fill out your First Name, Last Name and Date of Birth

Verify the information shown. If it is incorrect, you will need to complete a new Voter Registration Form and submit it as directed.

2. If you are not registered or the information is incorrect, complete a new registration form and submit it ASAP. There is not much of an excuse to wait until Election Day to find out that you are not registered or that you now live in “New City” and not “Home Town” and want to vote the local issues where you now live, but cannot because of registration issues. (I do not get why people can get their game licenses or license their cars on time but not take care of their voting registration.) If it is important to you, do it now. Don’t be the cause of election lines that last until midnight or beyond as happened in Billings a few years back because people did not pay attention to their voting status.

3. Finally, if we have a general election by mail or you chose to vote by absentee, the ballots are mailed 25 days before the election. They are mailed from the election office of the county where you are registered. With postal concerns, it could be a couple of days for them to get to local residents. Those who are in other areas, it could take longer (college students, military, snowbirds, etc.).

Again, if your vote is important to you, do not let the ballot package sit on your kitchen table until the day of the election and expect it to be counted. It will be if you get it to the election office before 8 p.m. the day of the election (November 3, 2020). POSTMARK DOES NOT COUNT in Montana. So vote your ballot as soon as you get it (following all directions in the packet) mail it immediately or be prepared to deliver it to the election office yourself before the close of polls at 8:00 p.m.

4. Regardless of your political persuasion, you probably have your mind made up by now. Make your vote count and be considerate of the poll workers who are all there to ensure that elections in Montana are fair and valid.

I have seen recent reports of undelivered or undeliverable mail-in ballots from the primary. The majority of these were in other states, though personally, I received one in my PO Box belonging to a prior boxholder. It was sent back to the local voter registrar. Many of these voters had moved, and had not changed their address with their local voter registrar. This is another reason to check your voter status and get it updated if necessary.

In getting ready to vote in the primary this spring here in Minot, ND I requested a mail-in ballot. I didn't get it so I called the Courthouse and they mailed me another one. I didn't get that one so I called again. I was told they had mailed two to my POBox. So the clerk mailed me one to my street address and I got it a day later. I filled out the ballot and took it to the courthouse where they had a special dropbox set up for ballots. The next day I got the two ballots that were addressed to my POBox in my mail. I called the courthouse and the clerk said that people having problems getting the ballots who had POBoxes. She recommended that I use my street address for the election this fall and that is what she put down for me. I asked her if I should bring in the POBox ballots. She said no. Asked me for the numbers on them and told me to destroy them. I joked with her that maybe I should vote two more times. She didn't think it was funny at all. So I think people who use POBox should be leary of using them and ask for them to be mailed to their street address

Not everyone in small towns has the choice for home delivery of mail. In some areas, PO Boxes are mandatory and there is no home delivery.

Amorette Allison wrote:

Republicans also hate the Constitution, except for the second half of the second amendment and then only for white guys. The Post Office is Constitutionally mandated and that bugs them. It is an excellent example of what government can do better than private companies but in doing so, it takes profit away from shareholders in private shipping companies.
And, yes, the Post Office is EFFICIENT. It is only in financial trouble because Congress put in a ridiculous pension funding requirement in order to destroy the Post Office.
Republicans hate voting.
Republicans hate democracy.
Republicans hate free speech.
But a racist fascist makes them HAPPY! Especially one who is killing tens of thousands of people through no particular effort. Nice, cheap murder!
I used to be more tolerant of conservatives but since the tRump regime took power and has proved itself vile every single day, my tolerance level has gone down.

Where do you get your information???

Colette Butcher wrote:

It is very disheartening to see how ignorant some of our state representatives are when they are willing to have the counties put out $750,000.00 in order to hold an election just because they are afraid the Democrat candidate might win if we mail in ballots. I always thought part of their position was to be fiscally responsible to the people of Montana.....apparently not!

Don't you think the Democrats do the same. They bought Tester for only 1 million. One's in California go for over four million.

So you are telling me you can't stand in line to vote .But you can stand in line to shop?

[Edited by Jerry e (8/18/2020 8:24:55 PM)]

Jerry e wrote:

Amorette Allison wrote:

Republicans also hate the Constitution, except for the second half of the second amendment and then only for white guys. The Post Office is Constitutionally mandated and that bugs them. It is an excellent example of what government can do better than private companies but in doing so, it takes profit away from shareholders in private shipping companies.
And, yes, the Post Office is EFFICIENT. It is only in financial trouble because Congress put in a ridiculous pension funding requirement in order to destroy the Post Office.
Republicans hate voting.
Republicans hate democracy.
Republicans hate free speech.
But a racist fascist makes them HAPPY! Especially one who is killing tens of thousands of people through no particular effort. Nice, cheap murder!
I used to be more tolerant of conservatives but since the tRump regime took power and has proved itself vile every single day, my tolerance level has gone down.

Where do you get your information???

And the democratic party is for abortion aren't they.
And only white guys like the second half of the second amendment. You guest can make the s''t can we. How about we all Republicans support the Constitution. And again where do you get your information. Talk about being a bigot comment an white guys.

And when Trump wins . For some of you. The Canadian border isn't that for for you.

Jerry e wrote:

Jerry e wrote:

Amorette Allison wrote:

Republicans also hate the Constitution, except for the second half of the second amendment and then only for white guys. The Post Office is Constitutionally mandated and that bugs them. It is an excellent example of what government can do better than private companies but in doing so, it takes profit away from shareholders in private shipping companies.
And, yes, the Post Office is EFFICIENT. It is only in financial trouble because Congress put in a ridiculous pension funding requirement in order to destroy the Post Office.
Republicans hate voting.
Republicans hate democracy.
Republicans hate free speech.
But a racist fascist makes them HAPPY! Especially one who is killing tens of thousands of people through no particular effort. Nice, cheap murder!
I used to be more tolerant of conservatives but since the tRump regime took power and has proved itself vile every single day, my tolerance level has gone down.

Where do you get your information???

And the democratic party is for abortion aren't they.
And only white guys like the second half of the second amendment. You just can make the s''t up can we. How about we all Republicans support the Constitution. And again where do you get your information. Talk about being a bigot comment on white guys.

REPLY HERE

🍹🍺🍸🍻-->😵

I don’t know if anyone read Thursday’s Miles City Star, but now the Mail Ballot Election that was previously approved by the Custer County Commissioners (resolution 2021-04) is going to be reconsidered.

Some local individuals went to the Commissioners on Tuesday and complained. These individuals, “Custer County Concerned Citizens”, had a laundry list of complaints, some of which do not appear to pertain to the election issue. I do not know what their concerns are or if there is an ulterior motive (which I suspect).

If the decision is reversed, the ballots that have been ordered will not be correct. Mail-in ballots do not have stubs, in-person ballots do. This will be an extra cost to the County. There may not be enough election judges to provide service at all of the usual polling sites. (I wonder if those complaining would be willing to spend the 14+ hour day that election judges typically do.) The lines at the Miles City poll will probably be long because of social distancing requirements and the need to clean the voting area between voters.

There will be a meeting Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. in the Home Show Building at the Fairgrounds. Please be there and voice your support of mail ballots. Do not let the voices of a few speak for all of us. I intend to be there to see what the issue is and to express my opinion regarding the need for a Mail Ballot Election.

Since I actually have a job, I can't go to the meeting but I submitted a letter that was clearly in favor of mail-in voting if only to save money. How come Republicans are all about cut the budget and save money until they aren't?

Ummm... How did you submit your letter? By mail, or did you make sure by hand delivery to a commissioner?

I had a friend comment that it has been a very "weird" year. Guess it is kind of like Halloween all year long as we deal with chaos, fears, mis-information, masks, social distancing, and loss of those we know and care about. And finally, now our Commander in Chief is denigrating our service members and all that they have given so that we, including our President, can live our lives as we see fit.

Amorette Allison wrote:

Since I actually have a job, I can't go to the meeting but I submitted a letter that was clearly in favor of mail-in voting if only to save money. How come Republicans are all about cut the budget and save money until they aren't?

It's called voting fraud. why do you think the democratic party is all for it

What a dumba$$ you are.

Since half the state already voted by absentee ballot, please inform us on how this is any different.

That's how it should be done. You act like it's the in of the world not to vote by mail . Maybe you should tell everyone to do the same. In stead of acting like spoiled children.

Voting by mail leaves a paper trail

Thank you Governor! You will make an excellent senator.

https://nbcmontana.com/ne...ck-lawsuit

What did Steve Daines do to get the post office to stop shortchanging its customers?

I thought that since Monday was a federal holiday and there would be no mail delivery. It was a surprise that my mother's ballot was delivered on that day. Great service from the USPS! Our ballots have been voted and delivered to the courthouse.

Again, I want to stress the importance of READING and FOLLOWING the directions that come with the ballots. As I was leaving the courthouse, a gentleman showed up with his ballot in only the green secrecy envelope. That will only serve to delay his ballot or cause possible rejection.

The Custer County Clerk and Recorder has had several large ads in the Miles City Star regarding the election procedure. These procedures are to ensure the integrity of the vote and that every legitimate vote is counted.

Get the ballot off the kitchen table, vote, and either mail it, deliver it yourself, or have a trusted individual deliver it for you.

Steve and I voted and he took our ballots -- correctly processed because I read the instructions and am OCD -- into the Clerk and Recorders office. Since it's a small town, they had to chat a bit and bring everybody up to date on what is going on in our lives. I LOVE that aspect of small town life. Here's hoping sanity will return to our country. :