Party chair mail ballot 'warning' draws ire from Republican election officials

Havre Daily News staff

Republican election officials sent out a press release protesting a release from the state chair of their own party in which he said mail ballots for a one-time special election would hurt Republicans in that and future elections.

Montana Republican Party Chairman and Billings state Rep. Jeff Essmann issued an “Emergency Chairman’s Report” assailing Senate Bill 305 — the mail ballot bill for the upcoming special election to replace Rep. Ryan Zinke — saying the bill will increase voter turn-out of “Lower Propensity Voters” and could give Democrats an edge in the election...