Campaign 2012

70 percent of Yellowstone County absentee ballots are in

Posted: Oct 31, 2012 5:11 PM by Q2 News

The Yellowstone County Elections Office has its hands full as we get closer to Election Day.

After it sent out a record number of more than 58,000 absentee ballots, 70 percent have made their way back to be counted. A large number of voters responded immediately and now the elections office is seeing a second wave of ballots coming in this week.

If you haven't responded yet, election officials recommend mailing your ballot out by end of week.

"We have to have possession of the ballot by 8 p.m. on November 6th, period," said Yellowstone County Elections Administrator Bret Rutherford. "Generally speaking, in-town mail takes one day. So if you mail it Monday, we should have it, but there's no guarantee unless you do guaranteed next day mail. I probably wouldn't mail it past Friday."

If you are not registered to vote, you still have some time. Late registration is open until noon on Monday November 5.