Montana Attorney General Opinion 15-508

Opinion No. 508 Elections-Road District Elections -Ballots-Voting, Manner of. HELD: The statutes of this state re- quire the use of an "X" in preparing a legal ballot in the election of special road district directors. April 11, 1934. 'Ve acknowledge recei.pt of yours of the 23rd of March requesting an opin- ion by this office on the question as to whether, in an election of special road (listrict directors, it is necessary for t'lectors in preparing their ballots to place a cross opposite the name of the party they desire to vote for. Sections 1654, and 1664, R. C., ~L 1921 provides that such elections shall he held at the next general election. Section 677, R. C. M .. 1921, provides tha t "all ballots cast in elections for puhlic officers within the State (except Rchool district officers) must be printed • • * as provided in this chaptet·." Section 678 requires the County Clerk to have the ballots prepared and pl;nt- ed, and "ballots other than those prillt- ed • * * according to the proYisions of tillS chapter must not be cast or count· ed in any election." The elector may wri te 01' paste the name of any person for whom he desires to yote on his hallot and must mark it as lll'Ovided hy Section 696. Section 696 requires the use of HX" by the elector hefore the name of the person for whom the elector desires to cast his vote. We think the statutes quoted alld others ·in the same Chapters require the use of an "X" in preparing a legal ballot in the election of special road distriet directors. There is not much room for doubt in the mn tter.