As of Sunday, 17.67% of Montana voters who chose to vote absentee had sent back their ballots. With just over two weeks to go until Election Day, a political science professor at MSU Billings talked about what this might mean for the election.
“There will be a lot more people turning those in during this election season because things are so tense,” said Paul Pope, a political science professor at MSU Billings on Monday.
The Secretary of State’s absentee vote data shows that several counties in the central south of Montana are leading the way.
In Yellowstone County, 25.03% of all absentee votes have already been turned in. Around 25% of absentee votes have been returned in Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Golden Valley Counties as well.
Pope said that more people are signing up to vote than in previous elections.
“The absentee ballots, I think at least initially are going to probably benefit Democrats a little more than Republicans,” the Pope said.
Pope said that’s partly because some Republicans are worried about theft and being able to vote by mail. People usually think that Democrats do better when a lot of people vote, but Pope said it might be too early to tell.
“High vote turnout will benefit Democrats a bit more than will Republicans, even though even here in Montana, Republicans will probably win the majority of their races,” Pope said.
At the Yellowstone County Courthouse, the parking lot was full of people dropping off their absentee votes at the county’s drive-thru box.
Linn Smith, an absentee voter at the Yellowstone County Courthouse, said, “It’s very convenient because a lot of our state is out in the middle of nowhere.” “This just provides an opportunity to do it ahead of time and have the comfort of my own home and all the fliers out ready to compare and contrast.”
That being said, Pope and Smith both agree that voting, whether in person or by mail, is the most important thing that can be done.
“I believe that voting absentee just lets everyone show up in a way that works best for them.” “It’s a great service,” Smith said.
