Record voter turnout in county

Sanders County voters participated in the General Election in record numbers, with more than 86% of voters returning their ballots by the time the polls closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

However, a technical glitch with the DS850 vote tabulation machine resulted in a delay of more than four hours for counting the county's ballots.

Results of the local elections and the final count on Sanders County ballots were not available until early Wednesday morning, after press time for The Ledger.

Sanders County Election Administrator Nichol Scribner said late Tuesday that on that day alone, more than 200 new voters registered to cast ballots, and more than 600 residents came to the courthouse on Tuesday to vote in person.

As of Tuesday evening, more than 7,000 ballots had been checked in for the county's nine precincts. Remaining ballots were turned in at drop boxes in each community on Tuesday. Sanders County Sheriff's Office deputies then transported the ballot boxes from the drop-off sites to the courthouse to be checked in and counted.

Despite a smooth test run earlier in the day, Tuesday evening's events at the courthouse began with technical difficulties with the DS850 machine. The county called technical support to troubleshoot, but a technician had to be called in from Coeur d'Alene to fix the machine. Scribner said that she did not expect to begin counting ballots before 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sanders County voters, along with casting ballots for U.S. President, Montana Governor and U.S. Senator, were deciding on several local races as well. Voters made their choices for Sanders County Commissioner, State Representative in Districts 13 and 14, State Senator in District 7 and Public Service Commissioner.