Montana Free Press

Election 2024 Guide

Montana's candidates for state and federal office.

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Last update: Nov 4, 2024
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Democratic candidate for
MONTANA House District 10

DEVIN T MARCONI

Map of House District 10

Active candidates for House District 10

General election nominees were selected via the June 4, 2024, primary election.

Republican

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ON THE ISSUES

Answers here were solicited from legislative candidates via a written questionnaire in April 2024, conducted in collaboration between MTFP and the Montana League of Women Voters. Responses here are presented exactly as submitted, without fact-checking or editing for minor punctuation or spelling errors. Readers can access the league's Vote411 resource here.

Legislative candidates who haven't submitted answers to these questions can do so at any time by contacting montanalwv@gmail.com or calling 406-233-9015.

Please briefly provide the following information: place (town or county and state) of birth, age as of election day 2024, place (town or county) of permanent residency, occupation/employer, and education. How do these things and your other life experiences qualify you to be an effective legislator?
DEVIN T MARCONI:

Permanent resident of House District #10, Kalispell, Montana Originally from Richmond, Virginia. Family from Scobey, Montana. Adjunct Professor, Flathead Valley Community College B.A. Political Science. B.A. Central Southwest Asian Studies. M.A. Political Science All at the University of Montana. I have worked in the field of political science for the past 7 years as a student, researcher, and teacher. Throughout this time I identified local politics as the panacea for all political issues from political division to property tax dilemmas. I grew up in a region with extensive political turmoil which taught me how to navigate complex and divisive issues in a respectful manner that includes all.

Compare to competing candidates
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues facing Montana heading into the 2025 session and what legislation would you propose and/or support to address these issues?
DEVIN T MARCONI:

The lack of local politics being guided by extensive levels of political polarization and nationalization of political discourse. When considering my specific district, I have seen property taxes, housing costs, crime, and a lack of access to government as the primary issues facing my population.

Compare to competing candidates
Many Montanans are concerned about rising residential property taxes, which primarily fund local government services such as schools, counties and city/town programs but are calculated through a system set by the Legislature. What changes to the state tax system, if any, would you support to provide property tax relief while maintaining sufficient revenue for essential services?
DEVIN T MARCONI:

I have numerous ideas that I know would all provide different benefits and detriments to the population I aim to represent. I hpe that I can have extensive debates with representatives from both parties to determine which policy position we can mutually take to address this growing problem. I have identified some of these approaches to be increased taxes on short term rentals, reexamination of the marginal tax rates, implementation of a small-scale inheritance tax. These are just some of the options and I believe a long winded and detailed debate with numerous representatives would bring the best solutions.

Compare to competing candidates
Considering the state’s role in mental and physical health care services, especially in helping cover the costs of services available to lower-income Montanans, what additional steps, if any, do you believe the Legislature should take to enhance health care access and promote Montanans’ health?
DEVIN T MARCONI:

We need to focus on improving the lives of those who are having the hardest time in society for many reasons. beyond the moral argument i want to point out the extensive financial returns that come as we help those in need. For one, every dollar we give to someone in need within our community gets spent in our community and turns into revenue for our local government. Additionally, this money gets spent at local businesses and strengthens our economy. When it comes to providing more mental health, housing and general health resources, we can see data trends indicating that increasing funding to these programs results in a decrease in crime. Helping those who are most in need helps small businesses, the local government, crime, and comfort.

Compare to competing candidates
Many education leaders are concerned that the state’s existing school funding formula isn’t keeping up with the costs of educating students. What proposals, if any, would you support to ensure adequate and sustainable long-term funding is available for public pre-K–12, college/university, and vocational education programs?
DEVIN T MARCONI:

We need to ensure that our public schools are operating effectively. I have a deep connecting with the education system in this county through my personal work and the work of my girlfriend who is a school teacher in the district. I want to make sure that our district is not wasting money and are putting the resources into the hands of our great teachers to enable them to work with our students comfortably and create a positive and productive work environment. I believe our local schools need and deserve more funding and we need to have the difficult discussion to figure out how to provide that.

Compare to competing candidates

MTFP COVERAGE

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Election outcomes

June 4 primary – Democratic candidates
CandidateVotesPercentage
DEVIN T MARCONI441100.0%
Count reported by Montana secretary of state as of Jun 10, 2024.

Common voting questions

When are Montana’s 2024 elections?

Voters picked party nominees for the November general election in the June 4 primary. The November General Election that will decide the ultimate winner in each race is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Who runs Montana’s elections?

Montana elections are administered at the county level. The process is overseen by county clerks and election administrators, who help to train and monitor the volunteer election judges that staff the polls. Ballots are typically processed and counted at central county locations, with the results reported to the Montana secretary of state’s office via a statewide software system called ElectMT.

Once polls close, the secretary of state’s office provides results through its website. The state-level office also provides guidance to local election administrators to ensure compliance with state election laws. Additionally, enforcing compliance with some laws governing political campaigns, particularly those involving campaign finance, falls to a separate office known as the Commissioner of Political Practices.

Do I need to be registered in order to vote?

Yes. If you’re unsure about your registration status, you can check it through the Montana secretary of state's My Voter Page. You can register to vote by stopping by your county election office any time during regular business hours to pick up an application. After you’ve filled it out, you’ll need to get it back to your county election office by mail or in person (the latter option is strongly recommended close to Election Day to ensure your application is received in time). If you do present your application in person, you’ll have to provide a photo ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you happen to be applying for a Montana driver’s license or identification card before the election, you can register to vote at the same time.

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

Yes. The state Legislature has sought to enact an earlier registration deadline, but under a March 2024 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court, same-day voter registration remains legal in Montana. Residents can register to vote or update their voter registration at their county’s election office prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Does Montana have voter ID requirements?

Yes, you will be required to present identification when voting at the polls. However, under the Montana Supreme Court’s March ruling, changes made to those requirements by the 2021 Legislature remain blocked. The current forms of identification voters can use at the polls are a current Montana driver’s license, state-issued photo ID, tribal or military photo ID, a U.S. passport or a student ID. If you don’t have a photo ID, you can use a utility bill, a bank statement, a voter confirmation card or any other government document that shows your name and address.

Are there situations where I wouldn't be eligible to vote?

According to state law, you can't vote if you'll be under age 18 on Election Day, are not a U.S. citizen, or have lived in Montana less than 30 days. Convicted felons who are currently incarcerated in a penal facility and people whom judges have ruled to be of "unsound mind" are also ineligible to vote. Otherwise, you're good to go.

Can I vote online?

No, that’s not an option in Montana.

Can I vote by mail?

Yes, you can sign up as an absentee voter by checking a box on your voter registration form. If you’re already registered to vote, you can fill out a separate form and submit it to your county election office.

If you’re registered as an absentee voter, a ballot should be mailed to you a few weeks in advance of each election day. You can make sure your address is current via the My Voter page. County election officials are slated to mail ballots to voters for the November 2024 General Election Oct. 11.

You can return ballots by mail, or drop them off in person at your county’s election office. Either way, the election office must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to count it.

How do I vote in person?

If you plan to vote at the polls, just be sure you know where your polling location is and head there between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. You'll need to provide a photo ID or other accepted form of identification and sign the precinct register, at which point you’ll get your ballot and be directed to a voting booth. If you have any technical questions or run into any problems, the election judges at your polling place should be able to help you.

I have a friend or family member who isn't able to drop off his or her mail-in ballot. Can I do it for them?

Yes, you can. The Montana Legislature did make some changes to ballot collection laws in 2021 related to paid ballot collection, but those changes have also been blocked by the Montana Supreme Court.

Who should I vote for?

That’s your call, not ours. We hope the information we present on this guide is helpful as you make that decision for yourself, though.

About this project

This guide was produced by the Montana Free Press newsroom with production by Eric Dietrich, web development by Eric Dietrich and Jacob Olness, editing by Brad Tyer and Nick Ehli and contributions from Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Mara Silvers, Alex Sakariassen, Amanda Eggert and Stephanie Farmer. Questionnaire responses for legislatiive candidates were collected with help from the Montana League of Women Voters, through the league's Vote 411 program. Contact Eric Dietrich with questions, corrections or suggestions at edietrich@montanafreepress.org.

Montana Free Press is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, reader-supported news organization serving Montana. MTFP's donor base includes supporters from across Montana's political spectrum, including some Montanans who are candidates in this year's election. MTFP's major donors are listed here and a current list of other supporters is available here. MTFP's news judgments are made entirely independently from donor involvement.

This material is available for republication by other media outlets under Montana Free Press' standard distribution terms.