by Evelyn Pyburn
Original article: https://www.yellowstonecountynews.com/202009040720/elections-office-moving-services-to-metrapark/
The Elections Office in Yellowstone County will be moving its in-person voting location to Metra Park which will open on October 2.
Initially, the office will open in the lobby of the box office area of the First Interstate Arena, but on October 6 it will be moved to Montana Pavilion. A conflict with another event prevents them from moving directly to the Pavilion, explained Elections Director Bret Rutherford.
Rutherford announced earlier that the general election in Yellowstone County will be a mail ballot; however, those wanting to vote in-person may do so at the MetraPark location.
Besides voting at the Pavilion, voters will be able to pick up ballots and do late registration. The only voter service available at the Elections Office in the Courthouse will be to drop off ballots. Rutherford said that he hopes to be able to provide other ballot drop-off locations, which will be announced later.
This is a very busy time for the Elections Office, according to Rutherford.
Last Friday, the office sent out by mail 60,000 ballots for the City of Billings to city residents concerning a single issue – – asking city residents to repeal the existing property tax levy for police and fire services and replace it with another. The earlier levy is capped at raising $8.2 million per year; the proposed 60 mill levy would allow the revenue generated to increase as the tax base grows. Ballots must be returned by September 15.
Rutherford explained that they were delaying printing ballots for the General Election on November 3, while waiting for a decision from the courts regarding whether to include the Green Party on the ballot. Last Tuesday the Supreme Court refused to take up the issue which lets stand a lower court ruling to remove the party from the ballot. Rutherford said that since the ballots are printed locally, he is not worried about getting them printed on time.
Last day for voter registration is October 26, after which voters must late register at the Elections Office at Montana Pavilion.
Military ballots will be mailed on September 18. Mail ballots will be sent to the rest of registered voters on Oct. 9 and no postage will be required to return ballots by mail.
More details are available at https://www.co.yellowstone.mt.gov/Elections/