Broadwater County clerk reports Townsend school trustee, sheriff mill levy unofficial results; canvasses scheduled

Angie Paulsen, Broadwater County Clerk, Recorder and Election Administrator, reported unofficial results from the May 6 elections during public comment at the May 7 commission meeting and described the canvass process and recount thresholds.

Paulsen said the Townsend School District trustee three-year-term race was close: Adam Brakefield received 975 votes and Christy Sangre received 956 votes. For the Broadwater County Sheriff public-safety mill levy, Paulsen reported 1,608 votes against and 1,008 votes in favor. She said the county collected 2,634 ballots overall, representing about a 53% ballot return for this election type — higher than typical turnout for school and special-purpose elections.

Paulsen explained the canvass process: boards publicly compare the official election report, the machine tape and the ballot reconciliation report, recite the totals aloud and thereby make the unofficial totals official. She said the Townsend School District trustee results will be canvassed at the school board meeting on Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. She said the sheriff mill-levy canvas will be scheduled this week and that notice will appear in the local paper and on agendas.

On recounts, Paulsen said Montana statute provides criteria that can trigger a recount: a margin of 10 votes or less in some circumstances or a margin not exceeding one-fourth of 1% (0.25%) of ballots cast could prompt recount procedures; in this election the margin and percentage did not meet recount thresholds.

Paulsen thanked election staff and judges for long hours during the election and encouraged members of the public to contact her office with questions.