2018 election season underway

The 2018 election season officially kicks off with the opening of candidate filing on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Several county positions will be on the ballot. Interested individuals may file Declaration for Nomination at the Clerk and Recorder’s office in Ekalaka, Montana. Questions regarding the election, filing or voter registration can be answered by calling the Carter County Clerk and Recorder’s office at (406) 775-8749. Filing will open at 8:00 a.m. January 11 and close on March 12, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Please note that postmarks will not be accepted later than March 12, 2018, and fees must be paid by the filing deadline.

Local elected positions scheduled to be on the ballot include: Carter County Commissioner District #3 (six-year term), currently held by James Courtney; Clerk and Recorder/Public Administrator/Surveyor (four-year term), currently held by Pamela J. Castleberry; Treasurer/Assessor (four-year term), currently held by Jesi Strub; Sheriff/Coroner (four-year term), currently held by Neil M. Kittelmann; and Justice of the Peace (four-year term), currently held by Kathleen Rosencranz. Precinct Committeemen and Precinct Committeewomen for both the Democrat and Republican Parties are also up for election.

Candidate filing fees for county offices are set by statute for paid positions. Candidates for County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace will expect to pay $142.05; Candidates for the Clerk and Recorder/Public Administrator/Surveyor and Treasurer/Assessor will expect to pay $252.95 and the Sheriff/Coroner Position will pay $262.95. Candidates are also being reminded that Montana Code also defines qualifications for each of the elected offices.

State positions open for nominations include: United States Senator, United States Representative, Public Service Commissioner, Supreme Court Justice #1 & #2, District Court Judge for the 16th Judicial District Department 1, State Senator for Senate District #19, and State Representative for House District #37.

While local candidates must file in the individual counties, all candidates for statewide or state district offices (including legislative offices, PSC and district court judge offices) must file their declarations and pay the filing fee with the Secretary of State. Filing information and the Secretary of State’s online candidate filing system for statewide candidates can be accessed from the candidate filing webpage at HTTP://sos.mt.gov/Elections/Filing/index.asp.