June primary will be conducted by mail

Carter County Election Administrator Pam Castleberry announced on Tuesday that the upcoming June 2 statewide primary election will be a mail ballot election.

The announcement comes on the heels of a directive issued by Governor Steve Bullock on March 25 authorizing all counties in the state to conduct upcoming elections entirely by mail. Specifically, Bullock's directive provided for the following:

• Counties permitted, but not required, to conduct June 2, 2020, primary election by mail (opt-in deadline: April 2, 2020; deadline for making ballots available at election administrator's offices: May 4, 2020; deadline for mailing ballots: May 8, 2020)

• Deadline for submitting plans to conduct school board elections entirely by mail extended to April 1, 2020

All registered voters in the county will now have their ballots delivered in the mail for the June 2 primary. Dates when voters can expect to receive their ballots will be announced when information becomes available.

Locally, there are only two filings for the primaries. Republican incumbent Tracey D. Walker filed for Clerk of District Court/Superintendent of Schools and Republican incumbent Rod Tauck has filed for reelection to the county commission.

Rural School District 56 (Alzada area) will also be conducting a mail ballot election this year. Tara Lynn Thomas and John Courtney have both filed for one three-year term on the school board.

The election for School District 79J has been postponed.