Forum to discuss election integrity

“Elections: Integrity and Involvement” will be the theme of a bi-partisan forum Sunday, Jan. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., at The Paradise Center. The forum will feature three presenters from a broad spectrum of political backgrounds.

Jesse Mullen, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, will report on the role of the SOS to continue to assure voters of the integrity of Montana's election process and the findings resulting from the state legislature’s 2023 Election Integrity Commission which confirmed the integrity of Montana’s election process.

Frank Garner, four-term Republican state legislator and retired Kalispell police chief, will explain Constitutional Initiatives CI-126 and -127, proposed by Montanans for Election Reform, and how these would empower voter preferences over partisan politics.

Eric Buhler, political Independent and executive director of Ranked Choice Voting Montana, will talk about ranked choice voting.

This forum is sponsored by Sanders County Democrats, who encourage all voters to attend. It is free and open to the public. Mindy Ferrell, current county chairperson, said this is the first of a three-part series that will “focus on issues that unite us over political polarization and chaos.” She will explain how the recent redistricting will affect voters, and will encourage citizen participation in our election process.

This event kicks off the second bi-partisan winter forum series sponsored by the Sanders County Democrats with the aim to “break through party politics and address issues that are critical to the well-being of our community and our state.”