Polls open with some votes tallied (PRIMARY ELECTION TODAY) | Missoulian

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Polls open with some votes tallied

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

At least 1,351 Missoulians have already cast their votes in the 2004 primary election, according to counts of absentee ballots at the Missoula County Election Department on Monday afternoon.

Regular polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. The Election Department will post results on the Internet starting shortly after 8 p.m. at www.co.missoula.mt.us/election. Look for a button on the right-hand side of the page labeled "Election Results."

The Missoulian's Web site - www.missoulian.com - also will provide updates on results from throughout western Montana and the state all evening.

Missoula County's two open seats are both uncontested this year, meaning County Commissioner Bill Carey should be elected to another six-year term and County Clerk of District Court Shirley Faust will return for another four years. No other Republican or Democratic candidate can challenge them in the general election, although someone could mount a write-in campaign with no party designation.

The filing date for write-ins is Oct. 18.

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