2024 election information

The 2024 election season officially begins with the opening of candidate filing at 8 a.m. on January 11th, 2024. In Carter County, two county positions are up for election. These positions include the County Commissioner District #3, which is currently held by incumbent Mike Watkins, and the office of the County Clerk of Court/Superintendent of Schools, held by incumbent Tracey Walker. Declaration forms and supporting information for the county positions are available at the Carter County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 214 Park Street E. at Ekalaka, Montana.

Pursuant to 13-10-201, MCA, in a partisan election, an individual may not file a Declaration of Nomination or a Declaration of Intent for more than one political party. A candidate may not file for more than one public office (not including precinct committeemen and committeewomen). Both Carter County positions are partisan. Filing fees are calculated per 13-10-202, MCA (2) for county offices having an annual salary of more than $2500, 0.5% of the total annual salary; the filing fee for Commissioner District #3 is $230.75; the fee for the Clerk of District Court/Superintendent of Schools is $329.62.

The qualifications for county office per MCA 7-4-2201 are as follows: candidates must (1) be of the voting age required by the Montana Constitution, (2) be a citizen of the state, and (3) an elector of the county in which the duties of the office are to be exercised; orb(b) in the case of an office consolidated between two or more counties, as elector in one of the counties in which in which the duties of the office are to be exercised. Pursuant to MCA 7-4-2106 (ii) the county commissioner candidates must have lived in the appropriate district for at least 2 years immediately prior to the election.

In addition to the two local positions up for election, there will be other federal, state and judicial positions on the primary ballot June 4th, 2024.