Lawmakers hear split testimony on bill to make local elections partisan

Representative Lucas Schubert opened the hearing on House Bill 482, saying the measure would make local government elections partisan.

“It's just making it so that local government elections are partisan,” Representative Lucas Schubert said, introducing the bill as a transparency measure so voters would “generally understand the ideological profile of a specific candidate.”

The committee heard a mix of testimony. Proponents argued parties increase participation and give voters information; Lisa Bennett, testifying remotely, said local races “lack media coverage” and that parties help mobilize turnout and hold officials to platforms.

Opponents included tribal representatives, county commissioners, municipal lawyers and county election officials who urged the committee to respect local choices. Patchy Yawaki, representing tribal communities, asked the committee to “post HB 482 with a do not pass,” arguing the proposal would “inject partisan politics into our local municipal and county … elections” and would override local decision making.

Lewis and Clark County officials and county election staff said voters in their county already decided the question. Candace Payne, a Lewis and Clark County commissioner, noted voters approved nonpartisan elections in 2019 by about 56% to 44% and urged lawmakers to “let the voters in Lewis and Clark County who have voted in favor of doing it this way” keep that choice. Connor Fitzpatrick, Lewis and Clark County elections supervisor, said he was appearing for the elections office and urged the committee to “respect the vote of the voters of our county.”

Municipal and county leaders said nonpartisan ballots facilitate local cooperation on day‑to‑day services. Neil Cardwell, city manager for Belgrade, said the “work of local government isn't about party politics. It's about making sure that roads are plowed, the water is clean, and that when you flush your toilet, everything goes where it's supposed to go.” Debbie Randolph, speaking for MAKO (the Montana Association of Counties), said county commissioners “don't care about politics in the day to day operation of county government.”

Thomas Joden, legal services director for the Montana League of Cities and Towns, told the committee the league opposed the bill, saying local officials and voters should decide whether elections are partisan or nonpartisan. Several speakers emphasized that Montana law currently allows local governments and voters to choose and that counties can put the question on a local ballot.

Committee members questioned the sponsor about the First Amendment and whether a nonpartisan filing requirement restricts candidates’ freedom of association. Representative Schubert said his view is that “people do have some sort of bias” and that partisan labeling simply gives voters baseline information about candidates’ general views. Other members asked whether the bill would override recent county votes and about the practical mechanics for counties to change back to partisan elections.

Representative Schubert asked the committee for a do‑pass. No committee vote or final action was recorded in the hearing transcript.

The hearing record includes local officials who repeatedly told the committee that in counties where voters have chosen nonpartisan elections, that local choice should be respected. The committee closed the hearing on HB 482 and proceeded to other bills on its agenda.