An individual associated with the Democratic Party in Montana has been flagged for concerns related to potential tampering with a ballot box, as reported by the Montana Secretary of State's office. The incident, captured on surveillance footage, raised alarms among election officials.
Crystal Cole, the Glacier County election administrator, raised the issue with the Montana secretary of state's election unit after observing what she perceived as suspicious behavior around a ballot box. She expressed her worries about possible tampering and lack of prior notification from the Montana Democratic Party.
The individual in question, identified as Laszlo Gendler, was reportedly sent to assess the security of the ballot box by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). However, his actions, which involved touching the ballot box, were deemed inappropriate by the DSCC spokesperson, who stated that the individual's actions did not align with their procedures.
The incident has been reported to the Glacier County Sheriff by the Secretary of State's office for further investigation. The video footage shows Gendler approaching the ballot box, touching it, and then stepping away, raising concerns about the security of the electoral process.
This incident comes amidst a crucial Senate race in Montana, with Sen. Jon Tester facing Republican candidate Tim Sheehy. Additionally, in Montana's First Congressional District, Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke is up for re-election against Democratic challenger Monica Tranel.
When approached for comment, the Montana Democratic Party declined to provide a statement on the ongoing matter. The situation underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of the electoral process, especially in closely contested races.
