Election comments enrage GOP officials

On the evening before a critical committee vote in the senate, Republican Party Chairman and Billings Representative Jeff Essmann issued an “Emergency Chairman’s Report” assailing SB 305 – the mail ballot bill for the upcoming special election to replace Rep. Ryan Zinke.

Essmann claims the bill will increase voter turn-out of “Lower Propensity Voters” and could give Democrats an edge in the election if it’s held by mail ballot.

Local government officials brought SB 305 (Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls) in an effort to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and to provide for an election that would not require trying to secure polling sites and election judges on such late notice.

“This is a sad chapter in the history of the Republican Party”, said Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Susan Good-Giese. “As Republicans, we stand for fiscal conservatism and SB 305 allows us to spend considerably less on this unbudgeted, unanticipated special federal election. I don’t think people realize that the cost of running elections is borne entirely by counties, using property tax revenues.”

“Just what exactly is a “lower propensity voter?” asked Janice Hoppes, Republican County Commissioner from Pondera County. “This statement further underscores the bad wrap Republicans get about voter suppression.”

“I am so angry about this statement,” commented Angel Colbry, Republican Clerk and Recorder and Election Administrator from Liberty County. “To suggest that we forego tremendous cost savings in order to stifle turn-out is an irresponsible statement. That’s not who we are as Republicans.”