Write-ins will likely fill pair of district seats this election

With a couple of seats on district boards lacking candidates for the general election, County Clerk Melissa Jones would like to ensure voters are aware that write-ins work differently to the primary election, but are still a valid way to make your choices known.

Jones says she was prompted to give voters a reminder after she was asked how many write-in votes a potential board member would need at the general election.

“For the museum district, for example, there are only two people running and there are three spots,” she says.

The answer, she says, is that there are no limits for the general, because voters are doing two different things at the two elections.

“At the primary, we’re nominating people to go on to the general,” she explains. “For the general, we’re electing people.”

Nominating candidates to move forward from the primary election requires that an individual get one write-in vote for a precinct seat, three for a municipal seat or 25 for a county seat.

“When you’re electing someone, just the top vote-getter can accept that position,” she says.

This will be relevant for voters in November in at least two places on their ballots: Crook County Museum District and Crook County Natural Resource District.

For the museum district, three trustees will be elected to serve four-year terms for the Crook County Museum District. Andrea Wood and Amy Goodson have filed to appear on the ballot, leaving one seat open to be decided via write-ins.

For the natural resource district, no candidates have filed for the two-year unexpired urban district supervisor seat. This, too, will be decided via write-in vote.