County elections experts outline timelines for May 25

As efforts to revive Senate Bill 305 failed Friday, Montana’s elections administrators turned their attention to the forthcoming special election on May 25.

SB 305, introduced by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls) would have given Montana counties the option to hold a mail-only election to replace Rep Ryan Zinke. Despite the support of nearly all of Montana’s 56 counties and successful passage through the Montana Senate, SB 305 was tabled in the House Judiciary committee Wednesday. An effort to “blast” the bill out of committee and on to the House floor was unsuccessful Frida...