Burns-Tester race adds punch to political play
2006-10-02
Source: Missoulian
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rss feedMissoula County Clerk and Recorder Vicki Zeier scrutinized an absentee ballot request in the early afternoon at the courthouse Wednesday.
"Can you read this name?" she asked. It was lunch hour, but she hadn't taken a break. Piles of similar requests covered a folding table. Zeier was tired. Everyone in the office was.
In 2004, Zeier's office had hired one temporary worker about 25 days before the general election. This year, with about 40 days to go, her office already has five temps. Every available flat space in the office is in use. But they're still not caught up.
Known as off years, the election cycles between presidential seasons are generally quiet. Voter participation often lags. It's a good time to test new equipment or get the kinks out of new procedures before the pell-mell rush of a presidential year, Zeier said.
But this off year has all the hectic tension of a major campaign season, election officials around the state say. Credit the close and spirited race between Republican Sen. Conrad Burns and Democratic challenger Jon Tester and ballot initiatives on everything from capping taxes to raising the minimum wage. Add to that pressure from political parties to prompt residents to vote early via absentee ballots.
"It's been nuts," said Duane Winslow, election administrator in Yellowstone County. "We have processed a huge number of absentees."
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