By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
Big Sky voters in Gallatin County will drop off ballots and vote at a new location this spring.
BASE Community Center will host the two precincts of Gallatin County’s Big Sky voters, accepting ballots for the May mail-in election, as well as polling for the primary election later in June.
Previously, the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District building in the Meadow Village area held polling for Big Sky’s sole precinct. Recently, Big Sky’s voter base in Gallatin County surpassed the legal threshold of 2,500, requiring the creation of a second precinct. Due to the change, Eric Semerad, the Gallatin County clerk and recorder and election administrator, as well as Jasmine Hall, Gallatin County elections manager, searched for a new space to accommodate elections moving forward.
“We conducted that 2024 election at the water and sewer district office, and our judges let us know that that space is not really compatible with two precincts,” Semerad said. Managing two precincts was doable, Semerad said, but the space was “overburdened.”
Semerad and Hall reached out to BASE and assessed the front lobby area and mixed-use room, and selected the latter. They agreed that BASE’s location, accessibility and parking makes it a convenient place for voting.
“There might be other places in Big Sky that could accommodate this, but as it’s already a community center, it seems really natural to use it for that,” Semerad said, relating Big Sky’s polling to Gallatin Gateway’s use of their community center during elections. Madeleine Feher, Big Sky Community Organization’s CEO, shared more about the change.
“Locating a polling place within a community-focused facility, such as BASE, reflects Big Sky’s commitment to civic engagement and accessibility. Community centers like BASE are designed to be inclusive gathering spaces—familiar, easy to access, and reflective of the values that bring us together,” Feher stated in an email. She explained that the new polling place for Gallatin County voters will be welcoming and convenient.
BASE will serve as a Gallatin County ballot deposit location in Big Sky for the May mail-in election, and will hold in-person polling for the June 2 primary election. The next date for in-person polling will be on Nov. 3 for the general election. Madison County voters will continue voting at their established polling location at Big Sky Fire Station 2, unless Madison County changes locations.
“BASE was built to serve as a hub for connection, learning, and opportunity,” Feher said. “Supporting the voting process is a natural extension of that mission. We are grateful to Gallatin County for partnering with us to make it easier for our community members to participate in such an important civic responsibility.”
May ballots will be mailed April 17 and voters must mail ballots no later than 15 days before Election Day on May 5.
A deposit option is also available. Before May 1, Gallatin County voters in Big Sky can drop off ballots at BASE during regular operating hours. After May 1, voters can deposit ballots from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Friday at BASE, and during regular weekend hours. Voters can also deposit ballots on Election Day. Other ballot deposit locations are listed in Gallatin County’s Big Sky Resort Area District election plan.
