Keith Holmlund, Custer County Commissioner District #2, voted IN FAVOR of Resolution 2021-04 for ALL MAIL BALLOT ELECTION.
(Below is a verbatim clip, taken from a recording of the September 8, 2020 County Commissioners meeting held at the Fairgrounds. His statement was recorded 1:03 into the recording.)
Keith Holmlund speaking:
I guess I’d like to maybe make everybody aware the reason I voted the way I did. But I think because of the COVID. And the possibility, that, well not a possibility. We have no control over whether or not the college can be open on Election Day. If we have a bad storm and it is open, how many people are going to want to come out and say, I’m not going to do this?
END OF QUOTE
Montanans know the weather to expect, and we always cope with it. We tackle much harder tasks than simply going to a polling place during severe weather. Taking away our right to poll privately, safely in the solitude of a polling booth based on the “possibility” of bad weather is ridiculous. Further, at first blush, it does not at all seem to oblige the wishes of the majority of Custer County citizens.
NB: Fergus County Montana’s primary election was Mail-in Voting. However, their citizens came out and demanded the polls be open for the General. So their county commissioners voted to open the polls, citing the desire to appease all, which in-person/absentee voting does do. Absentee for those feeling the need to protect their health or not deal with “possible weather” issues. In-person for those that feel strongly about their CHOICE to vote at the polls.
