Flathead County has officially completed the transition to an independent Elections Department, a move designed to strengthen transparency, professionalism, and public trust in the administration of local elections. On December 16, County Commissioners appointed Paula Buff as the county’s Elections Administrator, making her the first department head to lead elections as a standalone function separate from the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.
The decision to establish an independent Elections Department reflects the growing complexity of election administration. In recent years, counties across Montana have faced increased public scrutiny, frequent changes to election law, and a steady rise in the number of elections conducted outside traditional federal and municipal cycles. Separating elections from the elected Clerk and Recorder position allows the county to appoint a nonpartisan administrator based on qualifications, experience, and technical expertise, while also eliminating potential conflicts of interest when elected offices appear on the ballot.
Under the new structure, the Elections Administrator reports directly to the County Administrator and the Board of County Commissioners, while continuing to receive staffing support from the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. This model provides clear accountability while ensuring elections remain adequately staffed and resourced.
Paula Buff’s appointment comes at a time when Flathead County is already seeing tangible results from improved election operations. Prior to her appointment, Buff served as Elections Manager and led significant efforts to modernize processes, improve organization, and reduce costs—without compromising accuracy or security.
Those efforts were clearly reflected in the 2025 Municipal General Election, which closed as the most cost-effective election run by the department in recent years. Final costs for the election totaled $124,812.34, with a per-ballot cost of $1.74. The county’s share of the total was $95,860.58. By comparison, the May 2025 school and special purpose election, which was not countywide, cost $110,318.60, with a per-ballot cost of $1.81. Achieving a lower per-ballot cost for a countywide election represents a meaningful reduction in expenses.
These savings were the result of deliberate improvements to tools, processes, and logistics. The Elections Department invested in equipment that allows ballots to be processed entirely in-house, including high-speed letter openers, envelope sealers, sorting racks, rolling ballot carts, and a Pitney Bowes mailing system. By discontinuing the use of external mailroom services and eliminating redundant handling of ballots, the department reduced overtime, improved workflow efficiency, and minimized opportunities for error.
Reorganizing election functions within a single building also played a key role. Despite limited space, the department successfully packaged the largest mailing in its history on site, avoiding the need to rent off-site facilities. Keeping teams and processes together allowed staff to respond quickly to issues, improve coordination, and maintain accuracy throughout every stage of the election, from ballot packaging to tabulation.
Looking ahead, the Elections Department is continuing to explore ways to further reduce costs and improve efficiency. One potential investment includes a high-capacity printer that would allow the county to print envelopes, and potentially ballots, on demand. While the upfront cost is just under $34,000, estimates show it could save more than $10,000 per election, paying for itself within a few election cycles. Costs associated with school, special purpose, and special elections would continue to be billed back to those entities.
Planning is already underway for the 2026 Primary Election, which historically carries higher costs due to polling place requirements. For reference, the 2024 Primary Election exceeded $450,000, with a per-ballot cost of approximately $4.60. The department is actively brainstorming ways to consolidate election functions within the county building to reduce personnel, rental, and logistical costs while maintaining security and accuracy.
By creating an independent Elections Department and appointing a dedicated, nonpartisan Elections Administrator, Flathead County has taken a forward-looking approach to election administration. Early results already demonstrate that thoughtful investments, strong organization, and professional leadership can improve accuracy, build public confidence, and deliver measurable savings for taxpayers, all while upholding the integrity of the democratic process.