Ballots due June 2; county candidate questionnaires

Ballots are due by 8 p.m. June 2 in the primary election.

Voters must include their birth year under their signature under a 2025 state law change or it may be rejected.

It’s the same requirement as the May schools and special districts election and the 2025 municipal election.

Voter registration is available through election day, but election staff recommends that voters register beforehand to avoid long wait times.

Unofficial election results for May 5 school, special district elections

If you’re mailing your absentee ballot, one stamp is sufficient, according to the elections office.

The county elections office recently certified the May 5 elections and in the case of the Ulm School District levy election, the importance of returning ballots on time and properly signed was highlighted.

The final tally on the levy is 137 in favor to 138 opposed.

The initial count was 136 votes in favor and 138 opposed.

Terry Thompson, Cascade County elections administrator, told The Electric that they received 16 ballots late and three were rejected because the voter didn’t resolve whatever issue existed with their ballot in time to be counted. That could be a missing birth date or signature, or a mismatched signature.

Elections staff contacts voters about rejected ballots in an effort to get them corrected by 5 p.m. the day after the election.

GFPS board formally cancels May election

The county elections office will conduct the public test of the tally machines at 10 a.m. May 28 at Exhibition Hall.

Ballots may be returned at the Courthouse Annex at 325 2nd Ave. N. through 8 p.m. on June 2.

Election operations move to Exhibition Hall on June 2, but the dropbox at the annex will remain available.

Filing closes for county races, some contested

Check your voter registration status and/or track your ballot here.

Other election information is available on the county website here.

The Electric sent questionnaires to the candidates for county office on the June ballot for commission, sheriff, clerk and recorder and Justice of the Peace.

The responses we received are below:

County Commission candidate: Tom Lynch

County Commission candidate: Pete Anderson

County Commission candidate: Rick Wolke

County clerk and recorder candidate: Desarea Valentine

County clerk and recorder candidate: Lynn DeRoche

Cascade County sheriff candidate: Jesse Slaughter

Cascade County sheriff candidate: Mindy Kahle

Justice of the Peace candidate: Steven Fagenstrom

The full list of county candidates is:

County Commission, District 2: Tom Lynch, Rick Wolke, Pete Anderson, Barbara Bessette

Clerk and Recorder: Lynn DeRoche, Rina Moore, Desarea Valentine

Sheriff: Jesse Slaughter (incumbent), Melinda Kahle

County Attorney: Josh Racki (incumbent)

Treasurer: Diane Heikkila (incumbent)

Justice of the Peace, District 1: Brian Bebbington, Robert Polich

Justice of the Peace, District 2: Stephen Fagenstrom (incumbent), Cayle Halberg

Public Administrator: Gerald Boland (incumbent)

The races for county attorney, treasurer and public administrator were declared by acclamation due to the lack of candidates.

author avatar
Jenn Rowell