Deadlines and rules for absentee ballots

Registered voters who choose to vote absentee must get their ballots to the Flathead County Election Department by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. They are also reminded to sign the voter affirmation on the inside fold of the return envelope and that the cost of mailing the ballot is 65 cents because of an extra sheet in the envelope.

Absentee voting will be available until noon Nov. 5. Request forms are available at the election department office in the Flathead Country Fairgrounds Kitchen Building or online at www.flathead.mt.gov/election.

As of Oct. 24, according to the election department, a total of 21,946 absentee ballots had been issued, representing about 36 percent of the county’s registered voters. A total of 8,653 absentee ballots had been returned.

In 2008, the last presidential election, the election department sent out more than 20,000 absentee ballots, and 19,000 were returned.

Voters can register until noon on Nov. 5 and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters who lose their absentee ballot can fill out a provisional ballot, which will be counted a week after Election Day.