County to certify results Nov. 17

November 3 was a day of record voter turnout for Sanders County, with the last ballot coming in just before the polls closed. The last voter walked into the Sanders County Courthouse a few minutes before 8 p.m. last Tuesday to cast his ballot in the General Election. Sanders County Elections staff was done counting ballots and election results were released about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

In local races, Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox won his re-elect bid, gathering 3,933 votes while challenger Chris Stough received 3,187 votes. Republican Bob Brown won the State Senate, District 7, seat with 9,559 votes to Diane Magone’s 3,187. Brown is currently the State Representative in House District 13. That race was won Tuesday by Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls. Fielder, a Republican, received 4,791 votes, Democrat Colleen Hinds 1,449 and Libertarian Cade Stiles 493.

Republican Jennifer Fielder, the current State Senator in District 7 from Thompson Falls, won her quest for Public Service Commissioner in District 4. Fielder received 64,555 and Democrat Monica Tranel received 59,452.

A total of 9,199 ballots were cast in the General Election, which the Sanders County Commissioners voted to hold by mail-in ballot. Election Administrator Nichol Scribner said that on Tuesday, more than 200 people came to the Sanders County Courthouse to register to vote and more than 600 voters chose to vote in-person on Election Day. Of the 9,199 ballots issued, 7,705 were voted and turned in, putting the voter turnout at 90%, a county record. The previous record was the June primary, when 67% of voters cast ballots.

Numbers released are unofficial until the election is validated on November 17.

See complete election results for Montana at electionresults.mt.gov.