The proposed amendment came after concerns were voiced over bringing guns to polling places. While many elections take place in public schools, where guns aren’t allowed, they’re also held at senior centers and other non-school buildings. That’s created a “gray area” for law enforcement, Merritt said last week.

Heidi West, a council member who regularly works as an election judge, noted that when schools were being renovated the polling place she worked at was a restaurant that wouldn’t be covered under the existing ordinance.

The council will consider passing an emergency amendment to the ordinance after a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the council chambers at 140 S. Pine St. The emergency amendment would take effect immediately, and last for only 90 days.

At the same time, the council will consider a permanent amendment to the ordinance; the two-step process is necessary because the permanent amendment wouldn’t take place for 30 days after it’s passed, and that won’t be in time for the Nov. 6 mid-term election.

The amendment was created at the request of the Missoula County Attorney’s Office, the Missoula Public Library and the Missoula Art Museum, according to Marty Rehbein, the city clerk and legislative services director.