Montana elections offices are still eagerly waiting to hear whether U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris will decide to let third-party and independent candidates on the special election ballot. The special election on May 25 is to replace former Rep. Ryan Zinke who was nominated to President Donald Trump’s cabinet as Secretary of the Interior in February. State law requires third-party and independent candidates to collect a certain number of signatures to place their names on the ballot, but those candidates are arguing they didn’t have enough time to collect signatures. Potential candidates Thomas and Danielle Breck and Steve Kelly are suing the Secretary of States Office over those ballot laws.
Secretary of State Corey Stapleton’s office told NBC Montana they expected the judge to make a decision by Wednesday night.
The waiting game is now affecting local elections offices, which are hoping for a decision sooner rather than later. Missoula County Elections Administrator Rebecca Connors says offices’ timing and budgets are already pushed to the limits.
Full Article: No decision yet from judge over special election ballot – NBC Montana.