commonsense@seeley-swan.com
Neighbors standing up for the families, small businesses, and working landscapes of the Seeley-Swan.
Who We Are
Seeley-Swan Common Sense is a community voice for the people who live, work, and raise families in the Seeley-Swan corridor — from Seeley Lake to Condon, from the Swan Valley to the Blackfoot.
We believe this place works best when families thrive, small businesses grow, private property is respected, and the people who actually live here have a real voice in the decisions that shape our communities.
We aren't a political party. We aren't a campaign. We're neighbors who care about the future of this valley and want to make sure common sense, the kind that's defined Montana for generations, stays at the center of how we govern ourselves.
We believe this place works best when families thrive, small businesses grow, private property is respected, and the people who actually live here have a real voice in the decisions that shape our communities.
We aren't a political party. We aren't a campaign. We're neighbors who care about the future of this valley and want to make sure common sense, the kind that's defined Montana for generations, stays at the center of how we govern ourselves.
What We Stand For
- Working Families FirstAffordability, property taxes, and the cost of living are squeezing long-time residents out of the communities they helped build. We support leaders who put working families ahead of outside interests.
- Stewardship of the LandThe forests, rivers, and working landscapes of the Seeley-Swan are our inheritance and our responsibility. We support sound forest management, wildfire preparedness, and respect for the private landowners and ranchers who keep this place going.
- Strong Small BusinessesMain Street businesses are the backbone of our communities. We stand with the small operators, tradespeople, and family enterprises that keep the Seeley-Swan working.
- School Choice for Montana FamiliesEvery child learns differently, and every family deserves the freedom to choose the education that fits their kids - whether that's public, private, charter, or home school. We support expanding school choice and putting parents, not bureaucrats, in the driver's seat.
- Government That ListensDecisions about the Seeley-Swan should be made by people who live here, not handed down from Helena or anywhere else outside of our district. We support leaders who actually show up, listen, and answer to their neighbors.
What We Do
We share stories, perspectives, and information that matter to the Seeley-Swan community. That includes highlighting local issues, spotlighting leaders who put Montanans first, and giving neighbors a place to connect around the values we share.
From time to time, we'll support candidates and causes that reflect those values - clearly disclosed, openly stated, and always rooted in what's best for the families and communities of the Seeley-Swan.
From time to time, we'll support candidates and causes that reflect those values - clearly disclosed, openly stated, and always rooted in what's best for the families and communities of the Seeley-Swan.
The 2026 Election — What Seeley-Swan Voters Need to Know
This year, voters in House District 76 - covering Seeley Lake, parts of the Swan Valley, the Blackfoot, and other communities - will choose who represents our corner of Montana in Helena. The decisions made over the next several months will shape forest policy, property taxes, school funding, and the future of rural Montana for years to come. Here's what you need to know to make your voice heard.
- Close of Regular Voter RegistrationMonday, May 4, 2026
Close of regular voter registration. Registration forms postmarked by this date and received within three days are accepted for regular registration.5/4 - Absentee Ballots MailedMonday, May 4, 2026
Absentee ballots begin mailing to voters on the absentee list (25 days before Election Day).5/4 - Late RegistrationSaturday, May 30, 2026
County election offices will be open on Saturday, May 30th, for eligible Montanans to register, update their registration information, and vote.5/30 - Primary Election DayTuesday, June 2, 2026
Primary Election Day. Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (times may vary by precinct). Completed absentee ballots must be received by your county election office by 8:00 p.m.6/2 - Close of Voter Registration (General)Monday, October 5, 2026
Close of regular voter registration for the general election.10/5 - General Election DayTuesday, November 3, 2026
General Election Day. Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.11/3
HD76: What's at Stake
House District 76 sends one representative to the Montana Legislature for a two-year term. The seat covers the Seeley-Swan corridor and surrounding rural communities — places with shared concerns about wildfire and forest management, property taxes, school funding, access to services, and the future of working landscapes.
In a district this size, every vote carries real weight. Legislative races in rural Montana are often decided by a few hundred votes — sometimes fewer. The candidate who earns the Republican primary nomination on June 2 will be heavily favored in November, which means the primary is where the real choice gets made.
If you care about who represents the Seeley-Swan in Helena, June 2 is the day that matters most.
In a district this size, every vote carries real weight. Legislative races in rural Montana are often decided by a few hundred votes — sometimes fewer. The candidate who earns the Republican primary nomination on June 2 will be heavily favored in November, which means the primary is where the real choice gets made.
If you care about who represents the Seeley-Swan in Helena, June 2 is the day that matters most.
Important: New Rules for 2026
A few things changed after the 2025 Montana legislative session that every voter should know:
- Election Day registration hours have been shortenedUnder Senate Bill 490, qualified citizens can register to vote on Election Day only between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon — not all day as in previous years.
- You can no longer register on the Monday before Election DayLate registration is open through 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day, then closed Monday, then reopens for that limited Election Day window.
- Birth year now required on your ballot envelopeWhen returning an absentee ballot, you must write your year of birth in addition to your signature on the affirmation envelope. Ballots without it may not count.
- Postmark changes matterA USPS postmark change in December 2025 means mail is now postmarked when processed, not when dropped off. If you're returning a ballot by mail close to the deadline, take it inside the post office and request a manual postmark.
How to Vote
Check your registration: Visit My Voter Page at sosmt.gov or contact your county election office. HD76 voters fall across Missoula, Powell, Lake, and Granite counties depending on where they live — make sure you know which county handles your ballot.
Register or update your information: Registration forms are available at your county election office or at votemt.gov. Forms must be postmarked by May 4, 2026 for regular registration for the primary.
Vote absentee (by mail): Any registered Montana voter can vote absentee — no excuse required. Request an absentee ballot through your county election office. Once you're on the absentee list, ballots are automatically mailed for future elections.
Vote in person: Polls open at 7:00 a.m. on June 2. Bring a valid photo ID (Montana driver's license, REAL ID, Montana ID card, military ID, tribal ID, or U.S. passport). If you don't have photo ID, bring a current utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing your name and current address.
County Election Offices for HD76 voters:
Register or update your information: Registration forms are available at your county election office or at votemt.gov. Forms must be postmarked by May 4, 2026 for regular registration for the primary.
Vote absentee (by mail): Any registered Montana voter can vote absentee — no excuse required. Request an absentee ballot through your county election office. Once you're on the absentee list, ballots are automatically mailed for future elections.
Vote in person: Polls open at 7:00 a.m. on June 2. Bring a valid photo ID (Montana driver's license, REAL ID, Montana ID card, military ID, tribal ID, or U.S. passport). If you don't have photo ID, bring a current utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing your name and current address.
County Election Offices for HD76 voters:
- Missoula County — (406) 258-4751 — missoulacountyvotes.us
- Powell County — (406) 846-9786 — powellcountymt.gov
- Lake County — (406) 883-7268 — lakemt.gov
- Granite County — (406) 859-3771 — granitecountymt.gov
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Contact
commonsense@seeley-swan.com
Have a story to share, a local issue we should know about, or want to get involved? We'd love to hear from you.
Paid for by Shaun Lewis, PO Box 205, Seeley Lake, MT 59868. Not authorized by, affiliated with, or coordinated with any candidate or candidate's committee. Independent expenditure by a private citizen.