Gallatin Commision to Consider Non-Partisan Ballot Issue

According to a Gallatin County press release, Gallatin County Commissioners will consider asking voters if they want to change county elections from partisan to nonpartisan for Gallatin County offices.
Montana lawmakers recently passed a bill allowing Montana counties to ask voters if they would like to change elections held for county officials from partisan to nonpartisan.
Commissioners will likely decide at the June 18 meeting whether this option will be presented to Gallatin County voters on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The release goes on to explain that Gallatin County has twelve elected positions that would impacted by the move: three County Commissioners, two Justices of the Peace, Sheriff, County Attorney, Treasurer, Clerk and Recorder, Superintendent of Schools, Auditor and Clerk of District Court.
To get this on the ballot, commissioners need to approve an ordinance at the June 18 meeting. Read a draft of the ordinance here.
If passed, the ordinance will have a second reading at the commissioners’ Tuesday, July 9 public meeting. If passed at that meeting, the question will then be placed on November’s ballot.
Citizens are encouraged to submit public comment on this topic by:
• Attending Tuesday’s public meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. in the third floor Community Room at the Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman.
• Submitting written public comment by email at commission@gallatin.mt.gov or dropping it off at the Commission Office, located in room 306 at the Gallatin County Courthouse.
Commission meetings are audio streamed live online, televised on cable channel 190, and are recorded.
For any questions, please contact the Gallatin County Commission Office at 582-3000.