diff --git a/opentech/static_src/src/javascript/main.js b/opentech/static_src/src/javascript/main.js
index aa3657f4080164ad4d54906f5fb5d3fd8ab3a783..f4ae7a1edbf5240daeec04e404d758590f10b581 100755
--- a/opentech/static_src/src/javascript/main.js
+++ b/opentech/static_src/src/javascript/main.js
@@ -74,23 +74,35 @@ import MobileSearch from './components/mobile-search';
     });
 
     function mobileFilterPadding (element) {
+        const expanded = 'expanded-filter-element';
         const dropdown = $(element).closest('.select2');
-        const openDropdown = $('.select2 .expanded');
+        const openDropdown = $('.select2 .' + expanded);
         let dropdownMargin = 0;
+
         if(openDropdown.length > 0 && !openDropdown.hasClass('select2-container--open')){
-            openDropdown.removeClass('expanded');
+            // reset the margin of the select we previously worked
+            openDropdown.removeClass(expanded);
+            // store the offset to adjust the new select box (elements above the old dropdown unaffected)
             if (dropdown.position().top > openDropdown.position().top ){
                 dropdownMargin = parseInt(openDropdown.css('marginBottom'));
             }
             openDropdown.css('margin-bottom', '0px');
         }
+
         if(dropdown.hasClass('select2-container--open')){
-            dropdown.addClass('expanded');
-            const id = $(element).closest('.select2-selection').attr('aria-owns');
-            const match = $(`ul#${id}`);
+            dropdown.addClass(expanded);
+            const dropdownID = $(element).closest('.select2-selection').attr('aria-owns');
+            // Element which has the height of the select dropdown
+            const match = $(`ul#${dropdownID}`);
+            const dropdownHeight = match.outerHeight(true);
+
+            // Element which has the position of the dropdown
             const positionalMatch = match.closest('.select2-container');
-            const margin = match.outerHeight(true);
-            dropdown.css('margin-bottom', `${margin}px`);
+
+            // Pad the bottom of the select box
+            dropdown.css('margin-bottom', `${dropdownHeight}px`);
+
+            // bump up the dropdown options by height of closed elements
             positionalMatch.css('top', positionalMatch.position().top - dropdownMargin);
         }