Speak Up: Vote in 2024

Voting is a direct way to have your voice heard in our country. Democracy thrives when people participate. As we approach the general election, registering to vote and casting your ballot can make a huge difference in our everyday lives.

Let’s first talk about the importance of voting. Beyond the presidential race, Montanans will elect a U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state legislators, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other leaders. Montana voters will decide on ballot initiatives that affect our daily lives. If you’re not registered, you can’t vote, and that’s an opportunity lost for your voice to be heard.

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th. Get yourself ready by doing the following:

Check your Voter Registration: Visit voterportal.mt.gov to confirm your registration status. If your status is “active,” you are ready to vote. If your status is “inactive,” update your voter registration by completing a new voter registration form and either mail it or take it to your county Election Office. When registering, you will need a Montana driver’s license, Montana State identification card, military ID, tribal ID, US passport, Montana concealed carry permit, OR a school identification card. If you don’t have a photo ID, you can use a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck stub, or government document.

Your registration status becomes inactive if you fail to vote in a federal election and you did not respond to two confirmation mailings from the county election office OR if your mail-in ballot was returned as undeliverable, and you failed to respond to one confirmation mailing from the county election office.

Check your polling place: Some polling places may have changed since the last presidential election, especially in rural parts of the county. Check the updated list of polling places by visiting voterportal.mt.gov and then click on “Polling Places.”
Important Dates to Remember:

• September 17: National Voter Registration Day. Watch for voter registration opportunities in your community.
• October 7: This is the end of regular voter registration. Mailed forms must be postmarked by October 7 and received by the county election office by October 10 to register by mail.
• From October 8 till noon on Monday, November 4: This is the late registration period where you may still register to vote, update your registration, or request an absentee ballot, but you need to do it in person at your county election office.
• October 11: absentee ballots mailed to voters.
• November 5: Election Day. Polls for in-person voting generally are open from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. with some smaller polling places opening later than 7:00 am. Montana law allows same-day registration, so you can go in and register and vote on Election Day. However, lines are likely to be long so it is better to register before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by your county Election Office by 8 p.m. on November 5. You can also drop off your absentee ballot at your polling place on Election Day.

Getting registered to vote is just the first step in voting. Get a plan together for voting. Know what your candidates stand for and what’s on the ballot. If you feel overwhelmed by the process, there are websites to help:

• VOTE411.org/montana has voting information and will have candidate information starting September 17
• Go to the website for your county Election office for more information on polling places and times
• Montana Secretary of State’s Office: https://sosmt.gov/

Let your voice be heard…VOTE 2024!

Nancy Leifer, President, LWV Montana