The Montana Election Observation Initiative is continuing its efforts this fall and will be observing the Cascade County election, along with 14 other counties.

“MEOI seeks to provide all Montanans trusted and independent oversight of state elections. With funding and support from The Carter Center, MEOI is led by a cross-partisan advisory board of Montanans with previous experience in state government and election administration,” according to MEOI, which is co-chaired by former Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan and former State Rep. Geraldine Custer.

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The initiative is a nonpartisan effort to increased trust and transparency in elections.

In June, the group piloted their observation approach in Missoula County monitoring the testing of voting equipment, ballot processing, tabulation and in-person voting on election day using structured forms to gather standardized information. They observed 19 of 21 voting locations with 22 MEOI observers and made recommendations based on their observations.

The group is expanding the effort to monitor operations in more Montana counties for the November election.

In addition to Cascade County, the group will also be observing in Gallatin, Yellowstone, Lewis and Clark, Carbon, Custer, Broadwater, Big Horn, Missoula, Flathead, Hill, Glacier, Ravalli, Lake and Rosebud counties.

Observers will report on how Montana election laws and procedures are followed, representing all voters without interfering in the electoral process. Findings from their observations will be compiled to assess the overall quality of elections in Montana.

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Research has indicated the presence of nonpartisan or independent election observers during critical stages of an election can improve election administration and bolster public trust in electoral outcomes.

The 2022 Survey of the Performance of American Elections, a national survey administered to 10,200 registered voters, found that 61 percent of American voters would have more confidence in the integrity and security of their state’s election system if they knew that nonpartisan poll watchers had observed the process.

MTEOI is partnering with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana.

Commenting on the new partnership, Custer said said in a release that they’re “excited to welcome the Mansfield Center as our partner. They are a well-respected institution in Montana dedicated to fostering globally minded leaders and actively working to bridge the rural urban divide here at home. Their support will be of great assistance in
helping us conduct a robust and thorough nonpartisan observation mission ahead.”

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Mangan told The Electric that they’re seeking more volunteers to help observe the election in Cascade County and an in-person training session is tentatively set for 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Great Falls Public Library.

“Nonpartisan election observers represent all voters and they do not interfere in the election process, they simply report what they see. Their findings are aggregated to provide an overall assessment of the quality of the election,” according to MTEOI.

Those participating are asked to sign a code of conduct that includes,

• all observers must maintain strict impartiality while they are observing. At no time during their observation will they publicly indicate or express bias or preference with regards to any political party, candidate(s) or ballot initiatives.
• observers must not display any party symbols at any time while they are observing. This means that they will not carry, wear or display electoral material or any article of clothing, emblem, colors, hats, badges, etc. that would indicate their support for or opposition to any party, candidate or key issues in contention in the election.
• observers will be objective in their reporting and refrain from sharing rumors or speculation. They will report what they see, positive or negative, in a timely and accurate manner.
• observers are not allowed to engage in intimidating conduct, nor to carry or display arms or weapons of any kind during the time they are engaged with the project.

Further information about MTEOI, including information about how to volunteer as a nonpartisan election observer during the Nov. 5 general election, is here.