The election for district representatives to the Helena Citizens Council has likely been pushed back again, although nothing is official until city commissioners consider the matter at their meeting next Monday.

The new tentative date for the election is Jan. 8, with ballots going out in the mail Dec. 14.

City Attorney Dave Nielsen, in an e-mail Tuesday, said he had a lengthy chat with officials in the Secretary of State's Office, who noted county elections administrators need to submit a plan for a mail ballot election at least two months before the election occurs.

On Monday, Nielsen had recommended a Dec. 11 election, with ballots going out Nov. 26. He changed his recommendation after discussing the issue with state officials Tuesday morning.

Initially, HCC ballots were sent out with city elections ballots Friday, but a snafu prompted officials to delay the HCC election.

City races for two commission seats, the judge's bench, a parks bond and two war referenda are unaffected by the issue. Those ballots must be returned to the county Clerk and Recorder's Office by Nov. 6. Late registration and voting is available during business hours at the office, on the first floor of the City-County Building.

The HCC ballots sent out last week included candidates on a precinct-by-precinct basis, and voters couldn't choose from the full slate of choices in their district.

The new ballots will include all candidates for each district.

The citizens council, created 30 years ago, acts as a liaison between city officials and the public, gathering residents' input and soliciting information from Helena's government. Each of the seven districts is supposed to be represented by four members, though the council in recent years has struggled to fill its roster.

The ballots for this year's election, in which all 28 seats are open, are flush with candidates in some districts. Other wards have only one candidate, though write-in votes are allowed.

HCC Chair Justin Trafton said the additional delay won't pose any major problems for the council. The group will be a bit rushed in January to hold orientation for new members and elect officers, he said.

"We'll still be able to do (those things)," Trafton said. "It just pushes back our timeframe a little bit more.

"It's nothing we can't deal with," he added.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075

or larry.kline@helenair.com.