Q&A: Lake County early voting

Early voting has never been as crucial as it is in 2020, the year of the pandemic and political upheaval. We sat down with Lake County Election Administrator Katie Harding for this question-and-answer article on how the county’s voting is going so far.

Q: How busy or slow has early voting turnout been? How many registered voters are there in Lake County, and how many have already voted? Is this early vote turnout higher than other elections?

Harding: Early voting turnout has been above average. We currently have 20,422 registered voters and 10,637 have already voted. We have already surpassed the amount of ballots we had in our office for the federal primary and we still have over a week left.

Q: Are many voting in person? By mail?

Harding: Both. Fifty-eight percent of the ballots have come back through the mail and the rest have been dropped off in-person.

Q: Are there ballot drop-off sites other than courthouse?

Harding: No.

Q: Do you think you will have results by Nov. 4?

Harding: We aren’t allowed to leave the courthouse until we have results, so yes.

Q: Anything you would like people to know? COVID precautions, ID requirements, etc.?

Harding: Masks will be required to enter the courthouse. On election day (Tuesday), voters who need to register to vote or pick up replacement ballots will enter the front of the courthouse. Voters who are dropping off ballots will enter through the east side door of the courthouse. There will be no electioneering (campaigning) within 100 feet of any entrance to the courthouse on Tuesday. Individuals will not be allowed to pass out campaign materials or wear any type of campaign materials (including masks, buttons, shirts, etc.) if they are within that 100-foot mark.

Q: How are you and your intrepid staff holding up?

Harding: We are doing as well as we can do.

Editor's note: In-person voting is only available at the Elections Office through 8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. There are no other in-person voting sites in Lake County. Voters who have submitted ballots may check their ballot status at app.mt.gov/voterinfo.