Montana Election Official Raises Tampering Concerns Over Democrat-aligned Individual
- A Democratic-aligned individual was flagged for concerns after being seen on surveillance footage approaching a ballot box in Glacier County, Montana.
- Election administrator Crystal Cole reported the incident to state officials, believing it appeared as tampering since the Democratic Party did not notify the elections office beforehand.
- The situation underscores the sensitivity surrounding election security, leading to the Democratic Party acknowledging procedural errors and withdrawing Gendler from further assessments.
In Montana, an individual affiliated with the Democratic Party raised concerns regarding a potential engagement with a ballot box. Surveillance footage showed Laszlo Gendler, an employee of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, making contact with a ballot box at Glacier County. Local election administrator Crystal Cole alerted state officials after observing the footage, believing it appeared as if Gendler was tampering with the box. Gendler claimed he was there to assess the box's security, but his actions were not coordinated with the local election office. Following this incident, the Secretary of State’s office reported the matter to the Glacier County Sheriff. Although Gendler has stated that the ballot box’s security was a priority, the situation highlights the critical sensitivities surrounding election processes, especially amid a contentious political climate in the state. Both parties have significant interests in Montana, where key races are unfolding, including a Senate contest involving incumbent Democrat Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. The Democratic Party acknowledged their procedural missteps, indicating Gendler would no longer engage in such assessments in the future. As concerns about election integrity resonate nationwide, this incident illustrates the challenges election officials face in maintaining transparency and trust within the electoral system.