Opinion
Voter turnout one of highest in past decade
Published
12 years agoon
HELENA – More than 61 percent of the total votes cast in Montana’s 2012 primary election were cast by absentee ballot, according to Secretary of State and Chief Elections Officer Linda McCulloch. The record is a nearly 30 percent increase over the last statewide presidential primary in 2008.
“Absentee voting has skyrocketed across the state, with more than 96 percent of those voting in Yellowstone County casting an absentee ballot,” Secretary McCulloch said. “It’s not just an upward trend. For many Montanans, it’s the preferred method of voting.”
County election offices issued a record 189,718 absentee ballots for the 2012 primary election, compared to 143,161 in the 2010 primary and 109,545 in the 2008 primary. Voters returned about 77 percent of the issued ballots, casting a record 146,312 votes by absentee ballot.
Voters also hit the polls on Election Day, contributing to a 37 percent voter turnout–the largest percentage in the past decade, excluding the 2008 presidential primary which drew 45 percent of the state’s registered voters.
Because of to the state’s late registration laws, an additional 3,000 citizens cast their ballots in the primary, with more than 1,000 Montanans registering and voting on Election Day.
Unofficial elections results for statewide, state district and county races became available to the public on the Secretary of State’s website shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m. The transparent online service works in coordination with Montana’s 56 county Election Administrators who entered the results as they became available. Despite some counties experiencing tornadoes and loss of power due to the weather on election night, all 794 precincts were counted and reported by Wednesday morning.
Primary election results are available here: electionresults.sos.mt.gov
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
more
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT