A Montana clerk and recorder who expressed doubt about the integrity of the election process during her 2022 campaign lost her election oversight duties on Tuesday in a vote by county commissioners, reflecting some of the turmoil nationwide since conspiracy theories spread about the 2020 presidential election.
Hundreds of people attended the meeting at the Cascade County fairgrounds, and nearly 100 testified either in person or online. More than half the speakers supported Sandra Merchant continuing to oversee elections, at least until her four-year term was up in January 2027.
However, one person brought in a petition with 300 signatures in favor of a motion to transfer the election oversight to an appointed county employee, and the school district asked the county to remove election duties from the clerk and recorder’s office after issues with the school board election this year.
Commissioners Joe Briggs, James Larson and Rae Grulkowski and the clerk are Republicans. Briggs and Larson voted in favor of the motion and Grulkowski voted against it after listening to six hours of public comment.
The change takes effect immediately, but Merchant could challenge it in court.
People like her being elected is why it is important to vote for sane candidates all the way down the ballot. Even in smaller off year elections (ex. no federal offices on the ballot).
Always vote, small election or large. And then give your elected officials feedback. Giving someone a job, with no feedback is just bad management. Elected Officials are in effect our employees.