Eric Selmaud, Gallatin County clerk and recorder and election administrator, and Jasmine Hall, election manager, told commissioners the county faces higher election costs in the coming cycle because of increased precincts after redistricting, the possibility of four primary party ballots and the aging fleet of ballot tabulators.

Selmaud said the office’s startup budget understates the operating costs of federal and municipal election cycles; he noted the startup line for professional services was about $27,000 this year while the office historically spends many times that amount when tabulator programming, mailing and other election‑specific services are charged. “When you see these big numbers, that’s where it’s coming from,” Selmaud said. Hall added that the county increased precincts from 32 to 46 following 2023 redistricting and that judges, managers and other paid poll workers are a major professional‑services line item.

The office requested $133,325 for replacement of one DS950 tabulator and said three older tabulators are nearing or past their 10‑year lifecycles; officials said only a single certified vendor supplies the type of certified tabulator available in Montana. Hall said the county has successfully used HAVA (Help America Vote Act) grants in prior cycles to offset purchases and would pursue federal funds if available, but could not rely on that funding being available and noted grant terms vary.

Hall and Selmaud also requested increases to printing and postage budgets to account for a possible four‑party primary with multiple ballot styles and two‑sheet ballots. The printing request reflected historical spending of roughly $245,000 in a year that included a primary and was budgeted at $95,000 in the current startup budget. The clerk’s office also asked for $90,000 for temporary staffing hired through a temp agency to help process ballots, staff continuous count shifts and relieve permanent staff during heavy cycles; the office has struggled to recruit adequate student and volunteer pools.

Commissioners discussed the possibility of renting a commercial vehicle for ballot transport during high‑volume periods so county motor pool cars would not be tied up; Hall said county vehicles are useful because they display county signage and reduce public concern during ballot transport. Communications coordinator Whitney Burmas spoke during public comment to support funding tabulator replacements, citing repeated paper jams and reliability issues with older machines.

The board approved funding for the tabulator replacement, increased election operating lines and temporary staffing and directed the clerk’s office to seek HAVA funding and to return with updates if federal grant opportunities materialize.