Montana’s online absentee voting system encountered a significant glitch over the weekend, temporarily omitting Vice President Kamala Harris’s name from the presidential ballot for military personnel and overseas voters. While state officials resolved the issue quickly, the incident has raised questions about election integrity and sparked a wave of political criticism.
The issue emerged shortly after the absentee voting system went live on Friday morning. A voter residing in the United Kingdom discovered that Harris, the Democratic vice president and candidate for re-election alongside President Joe Biden, was missing from the list of candidates. This prompted immediate action from the Montana Secretary of State’s office, led by Republican Christi Jacobsen.
Richie Melby, a spokesperson for Jacobsen’s office, reported that the electronic voting system was taken offline for troubleshooting shortly after the issue was flagged. “The vendor corrected the error, and the system was back online by Friday afternoon,” he confirmed. The first voter affected by the glitch was notified, and officials assured that no further action was required on their part.
Limited Scope of the Glitch
The glitch was specific to the electronic absentee voting system, which caters to military personnel and U.S. citizens living abroad under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Despite widespread speculation on social media that the problem extended beyond this system, Jacobsen’s office confirmed that printed ballots throughout Montana included Harris’s name.
Max Himsl, a Montana voter in the UK, was the one who alerted the Flathead County Election Department about the missing name. His quick response led to the rapid resolution of the issue, showcasing the importance of voter vigilance.
Full Slate of Candidates Restored
Following the correction, the online ballot now accurately reflects all candidates for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. This list includes Republican candidate Donald Trump, independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jill Stein, as well as Libertarian Chase Oliver. Interestingly, the ballot prominently features a crossed-out line next to President Biden’s name, indicating that Harris is the primary candidate.
Political Fallout and Criticism
Despite the swift resolution, the incident has not escaped scrutiny. Critics have turned their ire toward Secretary Jacobsen, with former Montana Democratic Party vice chair Max Croes calling the situation “criminal” on social media. Other users echoed his sentiments, recalling Jacobsen’s history of election-related controversies.
In July 2024, Jacobsen’s office faced legal action from Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights group that accused her of improperly removing names from a petition aimed at securing abortion rights in the state. The group claimed that signatures from inactive voters were removed unjustly, while Jacobsen maintained that only “qualified electors” should be allowed to sign petitions.
The court eventually ruled in favor of the group, ordering Jacobsen to reinstate the removed signatures while the case proceeds.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Voter Trust
Beyond the petition controversy, Jacobsen is currently embroiled in a broader legal dispute over Montana’s voting laws. She has sought the U.S. Supreme Court’s intervention to overturn a ruling from the Montana Supreme Court that struck down several restrictive voting laws. These include provisions preventing 17-year-olds from obtaining ballots, banning same-day registration, and disallowing certain forms of ID.
As the 2024 election approaches, the political landscape in Montana remains tense. With the recent voting system glitch and ongoing legal challenges, concerns about election integrity have intensified. Critics argue that these incidents could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
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