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JP-elect cleared on allegations of illegal campaigning

by Emilie Richardson
| November 29, 2012 12:00 PM

HELENA — The Commissioner of Political Practices Jim Murry dismissed electioneering charges against Justice of the Peace-elect Joey Jayne on Nov. 21.

The charges filed respectively on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 accused Jayne of soliciting information from electors at several polling places in Lake County on election day.

Commissioner Murry stated that Jayne was campaigning at polling places while electors were voting early and that there is not substantial evidence that it was on election day.

“That is the distinction,” Murry said of the investigation, “she was campaigning while people were early voting.”

Murry said that there is currently no law in place prohibiting candidates from campaigning during early voting at polling places.

Murry stated that perhaps legislature should pass a bill banning candidates from conducting electioneering at early polling places, but at this time Jayne did not engage in illegal electioneering.