Glacier County commissioners allow elections Facebook page after administrator cites recent election-law changes

Glacier County commissioners voted March 16 to allow the county election administrator to create a Glacier County Elections Facebook business page to share voter information, including recent changes to late registration and acceptable ID.

Crystal, the county’s election administrator, told the commissioners she had surveyed other election administrators and found many create dedicated pages through their county offices. She said: "I feel like it's my responsibility to publish information and make sure that the voters receive it," noting that many residents no longer get local coverage because the Glacier Reporter reduced local reporting. "A Facebook page would be a good way for them to find out things," she said.

Crystal described two law changes she wants to publicize: under recent legislation, late registration now runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Saturday before an election rather than through noon the Monday before the election; and a Senate bill (referred to in the meeting as Senate Bill 276) removed the ability to accept expired identification at the polls, meaning poll workers must accept valid, unexpired ID. "They cut out 8 critical hours on that," Crystal said of the registration change, adding that the page would be "complimentary to the newspaper" and help prevent voters from being turned away unexpectedly.

Commissioners discussed prior experience with a Glacier County Commission page that attracted unrelated posts; one commissioner said finding official postings required extra clicks and that a dedicated elections business page would be easier for residents to use. After discussion, a commissioner moved that Crystal be allowed to establish the page; another commissioner seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The transcript records the motion, second and the chair saying "All in favor?" followed by an "Aye," but individual votes were not enumerated in the record.

The meeting notes show the election administrator intends the Facebook page to be a business page separate from personal accounts and said she had help available from a local contact to set it up. The page will be used to post official notices such as registration deadlines and other election-related updates. Commissioners did not place additional conditions on the page during the meeting.

The board’s action was procedural and does not itself change election policy; Crystal said the purpose was to inform voters about state-mandated changes and avoid confusion at the polls.