Election administrator cancels three Anaconda-Deer Lodge County primary races citing cost and error reduction

County Election Administrator Toni Hofland told commissioners at the Mar. 10 work session that, pursuant to MT Code Annotated 13-14-115, she planned to cancel the Commission District 4, Commission District 5 and Justice of the Peace primary races for 2026 because each contest has fewer than three filed candidates and no write-in candidates.

"Please consider this letter my official notice that pursuant to MT Code Annotated 13-14-115, I plan to cancel the Commission District 4, Commission District 5, and Justice of the Peace 2026 Primary Election races," Hofland read. She said canceling primary races when no write-in line will appear on the ballot reduces printing costs, staff time and the possibility of errors during ballot coding and proofreading.

Chair Kevin Hart noted the commission has statutory authority to override the election administrator but must act before ballot certification; Hofland said certification is scheduled for March 16. Commissioners discussed the practical effect — Hofland explained that with only one filed candidate in a race (she cited Commission District 4’s single filed candidate, Brian Riley), ballots would not include a write-in line and voters wishing to add a name manually could risk invalidating other choices on the ballot.

After discussion commissioners declined to override the administrator’s notice. Hart said the cancellation does not affect the General Election and will reduce staff workload for the upcoming primary. The county provided no public comment on the decision during the work session.

Provenance: Topic introduced and concluded in SEG 004.