{"id":2094019,"date":"2023-11-08T13:54:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elections-department-sends-out-wrong-ballots-to-undetermined-number-of-voters\/"},"modified":"2023-11-08T13:59:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:59:21","slug":"elections-department-sends-out-wrong-ballots-to-undetermined-number-of-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elections-department-sends-out-wrong-ballots-to-undetermined-number-of-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"Elections Department Sends Out Wrong Ballots to &#8216;Undetermined Number of Voters&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Felections-department-sends-out-wrong-ballots-to-undetermined-number-of-voters%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2094019&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Elections Department Sends Out Wrong Ballots to &#8216;Undetermined Number of\u200b Voters&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Almost two years after \u2064Kalispell, Montana, approved new ward and voting precinct boundaries, the Flathead County Elections Department used the\u2064 old ones in mailing out \u2062absentee ballots for Tuesday\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n<p>Elections officials made the announcement Tuesday as balloting was taking place,\u200d according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/flatheadbeacon.com\/2023\/11\/07\/flathead-elections-officials-reviewing-ballot-mishap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flathead Beacon<\/a>, which said the issue impacted an \u201cas-yet undetermined number of voters.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe Flathead County \u200dElection Office acknowledges\u2064 this oversight raises concerns regarding a\u2064 safe and accurate election process,\u201d a news release\u200d from Flathead County Public Information Officer Kim Grieser said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-chairwoman-ward-wants-decertification-of-ariz-election-results\/\" title=\"GOP chairwoman Ward wants decertification of Ariz. election results\">elections department<\/a> is \u2062fully aware of the gravity of the situation and is unwaveringly committed\u200b to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elections-department-sends-out-wrong-ballots-to-undetermined-number-of-voters\/\" title=\"Elections Department Sends Out Wrong Ballots to 'Undetermined Number of Voters'\">ensuring error-free execution<\/a> of our elections,\u201d \u2063the release \u200dsaid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoing forward, the County will continue to review, check, and double-check \u2062procedures.\u2063 We will implement updates to prevent\u2064 a recurrence of this incident. This serves as a poignant \u200creminder \u2064of the paramount importance of maintaining the public\u2019s trust in our electoral system and upholding\u2062 the fundamental principles of fairness and transparency in all we do,\u201d the \u2063statement\u2062 continued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The problem\u200b impacted the Kalispell city election for Wards 1, 2 and 3, which had\u2062 contested races. The candidate in \u200cWard 4 ran\u2062 unopposed.<\/p>\n<p>Election Manager Adrienne Chmelik said officials discovered \u2062the mistake Friday, and officials spent some time over the weekend \u200dtrying to \u200clearn \u2064how many voters were affected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn late 2021, Kalispell changed its ward boundaries, and that didn\u2019t get plugged into our precinct maps. So when we loaded\u2063 the new ward boundaries, some voters didn\u2019t get loaded into their correct wards. We\u2019re working with our GIS department to layer in different maps, \u200cbut it\u2019s going to take time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Chmelik\u2062 said any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/polling-place-suffers-voting-machine-problems-key-special-election-frustrated-voters-put-ballots-orange-bags\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official action<\/a> on Tuesday\u2019s balloting\u200d will depend on \u200bwhether\u200b anyone contests the results.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are\u200b doing\u2062 out best to figure out what happened,\u201d Chmelik said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think the \u200dcounty has been in this position before nor have we, so can\u2019t really say what we will do. But right \u200cnow,\u2063 we\u2019re focused on \u200btallying \u200bevery vote,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyinterlake.com\/news\/2023\/nov\/08\/election-results-early-tally-show-kalispell-incumbents-with-leads\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Interlake<\/a>, in Ward 1, Kari Sue Gabriel led Wes \u2063Walker 482-399 after \u2064the \u200bvotes were tallied Tuesday night. In District 2, Sam Nunnally led\u200d Gabriel Dillon 529-421, and \u2064in Ward 3, Ryan Hunter led Kevin Aurich 605-234.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s really important that people understand that we are absolutely committed to the process of this being right, whatever that means as we move forward, and we\u2062 understand more about \u200dthe process of the election,\u201d Flathead County Election Administrator \u200bDebbie Pierson \u200bsaid, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kpax.com\/news\/local-news\/flathead-county\/kalispell-municipal-election-ballots-have-been-issued-according-to-previous-ward-boundaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KPAX-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Pierson defended\u200d the integrity of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/arkansas-county-makes-big-move-ditch-voting-machines-paper-ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">election<\/a> process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s critically important\u2063 that people\u2062 understand this isn\u2019t fraudulent. I hear that \u200dword used\u200d a lot and used incorrectly. There is nothing fraudulent about what happened\u2064 in this process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt clearly was an administrative error related to data entry or data entry not happening. So I just want to ensure people that \u200delections are safe; we will walk this process out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other election \u2064glitches, one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/election-day-2023-officials-say-voting-machine-glitch-changing-votes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pennsylvania county<\/a> saw a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-election-employees-fired-for-allegedly-shredding-voter-applications-in-georgia\/\" title=\"Two Election Employees Fired For Allegedly Shredding Voter Applications In Georgia\">voting machine problem<\/a> \u2062in which votes cast for one candidate\u2064 in a judicial contest\u200d were logged as being \u2063cast for the other candidate.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>A Note from Our Founder:<\/h3>\n<p><em><b>Silicon\u2064 Valley and the Big\u2063 Tech tyrants \u2063have done everything they can to put The Western Journal out of business. Our <\/b><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><em><b>faithful members<\/b><\/em><\/a><em><b>  \u200c have kept us going.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>If you\u2019ve never chosen to become a\u2063 member, let me \u200bbe honest: <\/b><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><em><b>We need your help today<\/b><\/em><\/a><em><b>.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><b>Join right now<\/b><\/a><em><b>  \u2013 \u200dThe \u2063Western \u2063Journal stands\u2064 for truth\u2062 in this difficult time.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Please stand with \u200bus\u200c by becoming a member today.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Floyd G. Brown<\/b><\/em><br \/>\n<em>Founder of The Western Journal<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/elections-department-sends-wrong-ballots-undetermined-number-voters\/\">Elections Department Sends Out Wrong\u2062 Ballots to &#8216;Undetermined\u200b Number of Voters&#8217;<\/a> \u200d appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How is the \u200dElections Department addressing concerns about\u2063 the integrity and transparency of\u200d the \u200delectoral\u2062 process in light of this mistake<\/h2>\n<p><span>  S no\u2062 effort to manipulate the results of this\u200c election. This was a mistake, an unfortunate oversight, and we are doing\u2064 everything we can to rectify the situation,\u201d Pierson said.<\/p>\n<p>The Elections Department\u200d has faced criticism in the past for \u2063various issues, including technical \u200bdifficulties and outdated procedures. However, officials are determined to regain the public&#8217;s trust and ensure a fair \u200cand \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/louisiana-joins-states-banning-zuckbucks-but-will-that-be-enough-to-stop-dems-private-election-takeover\/\" title=\"Louisiana bans 'Zuckbucks' to halt Dems' private election control. Will it suffice?\">transparent electoral process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As the Flathead County Elections \u2064Department reviews\u2063 the ballot mishap, they are committed to implementing necessary updates \u200band procedures to prevent\u2062 a recurrence of such incidents in the future. They understand the gravity of the situation and are unwavering in their commitment to error-free execution of elections.<\/p>\n<p>The impact of the mistake \u2062is especially significant for the Kalispell city\u200b election, \u2062where\u200c contested races are taking place in Wards 1, 2, and 3. Election Manager Adrienne Chmelik stated that the error occurred due to\u2063 the failure to update the ward boundaries on the \u2062precinct maps, resulting in voters \u2062being assigned to incorrect wards. The Elections Department is currently \u2063working with\u2064 their GIS department to\u2063 resolve the issue, \u200bbut it may\u2062 take some time to correct.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the current balloting, any official action will depend on whether\u2062 or not the \u2064results are contested by any of \u2064the affected voters. Election officials are diligently working to determine the\u2064 extent of the error and find a\u2064 solution.<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Interlake reported\u2064 that\u2063 early tally results indicate Kari Sue Gabriel leading Wes Walker in Ward 1, Sam Nunnally\u2062 leading \u2063Gabriel Dillon in \u200dDistrict 2, and Ryan Hunter leading\u200c Kevin Aurich in Ward 3. However, the final outcome may be subject to change depending on the \u200cresolution\u200b of the ballot mishap.<\/p>\n<p>Flathead County Election Administrator Debbie Pierson emphasized the commitment to\u2063 ensuring the integrity of \u2062the election process. She \u200curged the public to understand that this mistake is not a result of fraud\u2063 or manipulation but\u2063 a\u2064 genuine error. Pierson reiterated the Elections Department&#8217;s dedication to rectifying the situation and conducting\u2064 a fair and accurate election.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial for the public to have confidence in the electoral\u2064 system and \u200dtrust \u2062that their votes will be properly counted. \u200bThe Elections Department acknowledges the importance of\u200d maintaining the public&#8217;s trust and\u2062 upholding the fundamental principles of fairness and \u2064transparency in all aspects of the \u2062electoral process.<\/p>\n<p>While mistakes can happen,\u2063 it is the \u200bresponsibility\u2063 of the Elections Department to learn from \u200dthese \u2063incidents and implement measures to \u200dprevent\u200d their recurrence. By addressing the errors, updating procedures, and conducting thorough reviews, the \u200cdepartment aims to regain the trust of the community and uphold the credibility of future elections.<\/p>\n<p>As the investigations continue and necessary actions are taken, the Flathead County Elections Department \u200bremains committed to prioritizing the \u2064accuracy\u200d and integrity of \u2064the electoral \u2062process. The incident serves as a\u2064 reminder of the need for vigilance and diligence in\u2064 upholding\u200c the democratic values that underpin our electoral system.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, it is imperative that\u2064 the Elections Department takes swift and effective steps \u2064to rectify the situation, ensure \u2064all affected voters are properly \u200caccommodated, and \u200cwork towards building a stronger and more reliable electoral\u200c system for the \u2063future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Almost two years after Kalispell, Montana, approved new ward and voting precinct boundaries, the Flathead County Elections Department used the old ones in mailing out absentee ballots for Tuesday\u2019s elections. Elections officials made the announcement Tuesday as balloting was taking place, \u00a0according to the Flathead Beacon, which said the issue impacted an \u201cas-yet undetermined number<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2094020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2094019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2094019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2094020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2094019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2094019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2094019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}