A technical glitch in Montana's absentee voting system briefly removed Vice President Kamala Harris from the presidential ballot on Friday morning.

The issue arose when the system went live at 8 a.m., and only two candidates, former President Donald Trump and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were listed on the ballot, though the system malfunction was quickly addressed, allowing affected voters to recast corrected ballots later the same day, as the Washington Examiner reports.

Montana’s absentee voting system, which allows certain registered voters to cast their ballots electronically, encountered the problem during the rollout of its September 20 launch.

Voters noticed the omission of Harris’s name almost immediately and reported it to the Montana Secretary of State’s office.

Montana Officials Address System Issues

The system was taken offline shortly after the error was discovered. Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen assured the public that steps were being taken to fix the problem as soon as possible.

According to Jacobsen’s office, the absentee program was back online by Friday afternoon.

By then, the ballot had been corrected, and voters affected by the glitch were given the opportunity to recast their ballots later that day. The Montana Secretary of State's office emphasized that no voters were permanently impacted, and all corrected ballots reflected the full list of qualified candidates.

Initial Reactions to Omission

The incident led to confusion, particularly among voters overseas and military personnel using the absentee voting system under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The Act allows these individuals to vote remotely ahead of the official Election Day.

After the system went live and the issue was identified, voters were informed of the glitch and instructed to wait for further updates. The system’s downtime was relatively brief, with the corrected ballots being made available for recasting by the same afternoon.

Details From Montana Secretary of State

Secretary Jacobsen addressed the situation further on Monday, refuting claims that the error represented a larger failure in the state’s election integrity. She pointed out that, despite the temporary omission, no voters were disenfranchised.

“No, Montana did not leave a candidate off the 2024 General Election ballot,” Jacobsen clarified in a public statement. “Contrary to egregious misinformation campaigns circulating online, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office certified all qualified candidates to appear on its 2024 General Election ballot. No ballots were affected, including those that will be sent to registered absentee voters and those that will be presented to voters at the polling place on Election Day.”

Efforts to Correct Error

The Secretary of State’s office explained that the system glitch was isolated to the absentee voting system and did not extend to the broader election process. Officials quickly worked to resolve the issue, and the system resumed functioning later that same day.

The absentee voting system remains crucial for Montana’s overseas voters. Voting under UOCAVA, which began on Sept. 20, will continue until Nov. 5, giving these voters a longer window to cast their ballots before Election Day.

Looking Forward to In-Person Voting

In-person absentee voting in Montana is scheduled to start on Oct. 7. State officials have reassured voters that all measures are being taken to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Jacobsen’s office continues to work closely with election staff and technicians to ensure the system functions properly for the remainder of the voting period.

Montana’s voters have been encouraged to stay informed and check for official updates from the Secretary of State’s office, which is actively monitoring the voting system for any further irregularities. The state’s election team is confident that no further issues will arise before Election Day.

Conclusion

The temporary omission of Vice President Kamala Harris from Montana's presidential ballot, caused by a system glitch, was swiftly resolved.

Voters impacted by the error were allowed to recast their corrected ballots the same day.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen emphasized that no ballots were permanently affected and assured voters of the state’s commitment to election integrity as absentee voting continues through November.