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Bill would allow county election administrators to staff school-district elections from across the county
Summary
Rep. David Beatty's HB 125 would permit county election administrators conducting school-district elections to use any trained, certified election judge from the county rather than limiting judges to those who reside inside the school district. County clerks said the bill fills practical staffing gaps for small districts.
Representative David Beatty presented House Bill 125 to allow a county election administrator conducting a school-district election to staff that election with any trained or certified election judge within the county rather than limiting the pool to judges who reside inside the school district.
"Passage of this bill will enable county election administrators to most efficiently staff school elections," Beatty said, explaining that small or rural school districts sometimes lack a sufficient pool of certified judges.
Lewis and Clark County Elections Director Connor Fitzpatrick and Janelle Tucek of the Montana Association of County Clerks and Recorders testified in support. Fitzpatrick said the bill provides flexibility when East Helena or other small districts cannot supply enough judges during the school election timeframe. Tucek said in small counties a school election judge pool can be as small as three people and HB 125 would allow counties to pull certified judges from across the county.
No opponents testified and no committee action was taken at the hearing.
Why it matters: School-district elections are often short, low-turnout events that can be hard to staff; the bill would allow counties to use their certified, trained judge pool more efficiently.
What’s next: Committee will consider the bill; proponents urged a due-pass recommendation.
