Republicans on House panel kill Montana Hose of Representatives mail-only ballot option for May 25 election

Republicans on a Montana House panel voted Wednesday to kill a bill allowing counties to choose to use only mail ballots in the May 25 special congressional election.

The 11-8, party-line vote in the House Judiciary Committee to table Senate Bill 305 means the bill is dead – unless the panel changes its mind or a super-majority of the House votes to bring the bill to the floor.

Supporters told MTN News Wednesday they’ll try to bring the bill to the House floor later this week – but that they’re not optimistic about its chances. Removing a bill from committee takes at least 60 votes in the 100-member House, and Republicans hold a 59-41 majority.

By Mike Dennison – MTN News

Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/35027801/republicans-on-house-panel-kill-mail-only-ballot-option-for-may-25-election

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Video: Hearing on Montana vote-by-mail election gets rowdy, room has to be cleared http://www.matr.net/article-76143.html

46 of 56 Montana counties support mail ballot for special election http://www.matr.net/article-76030.html

State Representative Geraldine Custer, R-Montana, talks with Rachel Maddow about the advantages of a mail-in ballot http://www.matr.net/article-75843.html

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Suppressing the vote is not a campaign tactic

Jeff Essmann has a tough job. As chairman of the Montana Republican Party, he has to analyze every idea with one goal in mind: helping Republicans win elections. But not everything good for Montana is good for the GOP. Sometimes, circumstances force him to take up a position with little merit, solely because it might help his party. In the movie about teens trying to save their community center that is Montana politics, Essmann is the guy with the bulldozer. He looks like the villain, but from his perspective, he’s just trying to build a mall.

By Dan Brooks

Full Story: http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/suppressing-the-vote-is-not-a-campaign-tactic/Content?oid=3734829