Construction prompts changes to polling stations, impacting 7,735 Missoula voters

With Election Day just a month away, the Missoula County Elections Office is planning to shuffle a number of polling stations to a temporary location due to construction, and it's asking voters to note the changes.

Dayna Causby, the county's elections administrator, said Chief Charlo Elementary School will absorb a number of polling stations, including Cold Springs Elementary and Meadow Hill Middle School, both of which are undergoing renovations.

She said traffic at Chief Charlo is expected to be heavy, and she's advising voters to consider submitting an absentee ballot.

“We'll have an officer stationed there during school hours to help manage the flow of traffic,” Causby said. “We'll have one or two extra people come and help move people through the building to the gym.”

Other affected polling stations include Hellgate Elementary School, which has been moved to the Montana Technology and Development Center, located at 5785 W. Broadway. The polling station at Hawthorne Elementary will move to the Orchard Homes Country Life Club at 2537 S. Third Street W.

Causby said the Elections Office will mail fliers to voters in affected precincts who have not opted to vote by mail. The fliers will include maps of the relocated polling stations.

The changes will impact roughly 7,735 voters.

“Missoula County voters always have the opportunity to vote via the mail,” Causby said. “Voters can request a mail ballot up until the day before the election.”

After tomorrow, voters must request an absentee ballot in person at the Elections Office at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended and weekend hours planned for October.