Montana officials have ruled that two presidential candidates will be temporarily excluded from the state’s online ballot due to a technical issue. The candidates affected by this decision are Howie Hawkins, the Green Party nominee, and Gloria La Riva, the Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee.
The Montana Secretary of State’s office explained that a software error caused the candidates’ names to be missing from the online ballot. The issue arose after the Green Party failed to submit the necessary paperwork on time, which led to their exclusion from the ballot. The Party for Socialism and Liberation submitted their paperwork on time, but a technical glitch prevented their names from appearing on the online ballot as well.
However, Montana officials assured voters that the problem will be resolved soon and both Hawkins and La Riva will be added back to the online ballot. In the meantime, voters can still access the candidates’ names on the official ballot that will be used for in-person voting.
The decision to temporarily exclude these candidates has sparked some concern among voters and political groups. Some fear that this could impact the election process and limit voters’ choices. However, officials have assured the public that this issue will not affect the integrity of the election and that steps are being taken to rectify the situation.
Overall, the exclusion of Hawkins and La Riva from the online ballot in Montana is a temporary setback caused by a software error. The candidates will soon be reinstated onto the ballot, and voters will have the opportunity to choose from all eligible candidates in the upcoming election.
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