Montana Officials Clarify: Kamala Harris Is Still on the Ballot

Montana state election officials have confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris will indeed appear on the ballot for the upcoming general election, despite recent rumors and accusations circulating online over the weekend.

Absentee voting began on Friday for overseas and military voters, and shortly after Montana’s Electronic Absentee System went live at 8 a.m., the Secretary of State’s Office received reports of a display issue with the ballot. As a precaution, the system was taken offline for troubleshooting and was successfully fixed by Friday afternoon, as stated in an official release from the office on Monday.

The Secretary of State’s Office clarified that other ballots were not impacted by the issue. In a statement, they emphasized, “Contrary to egregious misinformation campaigns circulating online, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office certified all qualified candidates to appear on its 2024 General Election ballot,” which includes Harris. They urged voters to rely on trusted sources, including the Secretary of State’s Office and the state’s 56 county election offices, for credible election information.

A spokesperson indicated that the voter who might have been affected has already been contacted and no additional action is required on their part.

The current atmosphere surrounding elections has been fraught with unfounded claims of election fraud, a narrative that intensified following former President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his loss in the 2020 election.

Trump and his supporters pursued legal challenges to dispute the election results through more than 60 cases, with nearly all being dismissed. The fallout from these unfounded allegations included a violent mob breaching the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to halt the certification of the results. More than 1,000 individuals have faced criminal charges related to the Capitol attack.

Despite the lack of evidence supporting claims of widespread election misconduct, recent polling conducted by the World Justice Project revealed concerning statistics: nearly half of Republicans and about a quarter of Democrats said they would refuse to accept the election results if their candidate were to lose.

Further highlighting the tense environment, a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University earlier this spring found that more than one-third of election officials have experienced harassment or abuse in their roles. Additionally, seven out of ten officials reported an increase in threats since 2020.

This context adds a layer of urgency as the 2024 election approaches, with many voters poised to navigate an increasingly polarized political landscape. Trust in the electoral process is critical, and election officials are working diligently to ensure transparent and fair procedures are in place, while combating misinformation head-on.

In conclusion, Montana officials have taken steps to address recent misconceptions regarding ballot integrity and the presence of candidates, including Vice President Harris. Voters are urged to exercise their rights and engage with reliable sources to better understand the electoral process as they prepare for the upcoming election.

Source: USA Today