Published on the Opinion page of the Helena Independent Record

One of the most fundamental rights of U.S. citizens is the right to vote.

We, in the League of Women Voters, cherish it and work hard to protect it. Weare not alone. As some state and federal office holders try to chip away at voting rights, there is an army of citizens, attorneys and non-profit organizations working to uphold this basic right of citizenship.

The simple act of voting has come to be seen as a threat to some of those in power. In fact, it is one of the most patriotic acts of a democracy.

We have not only a right but a duty to vote.

Here in Montana, one of the more dubious changes to our election laws came out of our last legislative session in the form of a birth year requirement. For the November 2025 general election, voters were required to state their year of birth, along with their signature, on mail-in ballots. The argument in support of this and so many other election obstacles falls under the vague pretense of election integrity.

As the dust settled on this year’s municipal elections around the state, we learned, not surprisingly, that thousands of ballots were rejected over this new requirement. According to a recap by the Montana Free Press (MTFP), more than 2,700 ballots were rejected in Montana’s six largest cities due to the new requirement.

But we in Lewis and Clark County were fortunate. While Helena had the highest voter turnout of the six cities, we also had the lowest ballot rejection rate, according to unofficial vote counts from county election offices as reported by MTFP.

That is not by accident. Lewis and Clark County elections officials foresaw the problem and initiated an outreach effort to educate voters before the election.

In addition to a “soft launch” adding the year-of-birth requirement to mail-in ballots for September’s primary election, they sent out postcard reminders to voters a week before November election ballots went out. Only 99 were rejected, according to Connor Fitzpatrick, county elections administrator, and half of those were due to questionable signatures.

The elections staff works hard to verify signatures, which they regard as the best assurance of election integrity. Of the 99 rejections, nearly half were “cured” or resolved by election day.

We have a small but mighty elections office in Lewis and Clark County. We in the League of Women Voters, applaud them for keeping our elections safe and secure.

We can all rest better knowing our votes are in the hands of professional and conscientious protectors of our precious right to vote.

Norma Tirrell, member, League of Women Voters of the Helena Area and Cherri Jones, president, League of Women Voters of the Helena Area.