SEELEY LAKE – According to the Missoula County Elections Office, there are a couple of changes to the voter registration process for property owners in the Seeley Lake Sewer District for the upcoming Bond election. The Feb. 23 election will be conducted by mail with ballots being mailed Feb. 3.
Unlike most elections, Sewer District elections allow certain landowners the ability to register and vote in addition to the registered voters who reside in the District. There are several ways in which landowners may be eligible to vote depending on how they own their property.
The main change since last May’s Sewer Board election is that sole landowners who reside outside of the District will not automatically receive a ballot. They must request a ballot from the Elections Office by Jan. 29.
Landowners who own property jointly with two or more people on the deed may request a voting agent for the property to receive one ballot. If the owners are already registered voters in the District they should not designate themselves as a voting agent. However they may designate someone else as a voting agent.
Properties owned by a business or other entity such as a corporation, LLC or family trust can also designate a voting agent. Unlike agents of jointly owned properties, this voting agent may already be registered in the District and can receive an extra ballot to represent the entity owning the property. An entity can only designate one voting agent even if the entity owns multiple properties.
To designate voting agents, landowners must return a form to the Elections Office by Jan. 29. The form can be found on the Sewer District’s website, https://seeleysewer.org/ or requested from the Elections Office.
Voting agents must be designated for each election. Even if an agent was registered for last May’s election, they must register again to receive a ballot for the bond election.
Residents, either renters or landowners, who are active registered voters, will receive a ballot automatically. To receive a ballot in the mail, residents must be registered by Jan. 25. Late registration is also available for District residents but must be done in person during regular office hours at the Elections Office in Missoula before 12 p.m. on Feb. 22. Same-day registration is available in person at the Elections Office on Feb. 23 from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
It is critical that voters have their correct physical address on their registration to ensure they get the correct ballots. All registered voters and voting agents will receive a ballot for the General Obligation Bonds to pay for construction of the treatment plant, lift stations and force main. Voters and voting agents in Sub-District 1 (also know as Phase 1) will also receive a ballot for the Revenue Bonds to pay for their collection system.
People can check their voter registration to make sure it is active and verify their physical address at MyVoterPageMT.com To register or make changes to your address or other information, forms can be downloaded from the county’s elections website.
To see what Sub-District/Phase your property is in you can use an online interactive map and enter your street address at https://gis.missoulacounty.us/elections/voter/
To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Elections Office by 8 p.m. Feb. 23. A ballot collection site will also be located at Seeley Lake Elementary School on Feb. 23 that will be open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
The Elections Office can be found online at http://www.missoulavotes.com, reached by phone at 406-258-4751 or email electioninfo@missoulacounty.us
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