Kalispell’s November Municipal Elections will be 100% mail-in but that decision wasn’t made without plenty of discussion at Monday’s City Council Meeting.
Proposing the proposition was Council President Chad Graham. Two council members — both candidates for Mayor in the upcoming election, Sid Daoud and Ryan Hunter, had opposing views. Daoud expressed his concerns that the mail-in limited the time he would have to “influence people” about the “who” and “why” he’s running. Hunter cited cost savings and that there is a provision to returning the ballot in person at the Elections Office on North Main Street.
Mayor Mark Johnson, who’s ending his 12 years in city government says he still holds out hope for a National Holiday where everyone who can votes in person.
The vote came down to a 5-to-2 vote in favor of the mail-in election. Only Mayor Johnson and Council Member Daoud voted against it.
The Flathead County Elections Department mails out the ballots on October 17th. They must be returned no later than 8:00 the night of the election, November 4th.
