Montana Secretary of State Candidate Remains On Ballot

The Montana Supreme Court Tuesday said Libertarian candidate for secretary of state Roger Roots will not be removed from Montana’s November ballot, rejecting an argument from Republicans that he didn’t file proper campaign forms.  In a 5-1 decision, the high court said Roots did file the proper forms – although one was late – and that state election officials are not required to strike his name from the ballot.  Republican Supreme Court Justice Laurie McKinnon was the lone dissenter, saying the law required Roots to be removed from the ballot for filing that campaign form late.

 
Roots, of Livingston, is one of three candidates in the race for the open seat; the others are Democrat Monica Lindeen and Republican Corey Stapleton.  Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl said Roots did file the finance reports late, but the appropriate penalty is a fine, not throwing someone off the ballot.