Voter Registration Deadline Approaches For 2007 Montana Municipal Elections

  
   
CONSERVATION GROUP ENCOURAGES VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION
 
Bozeman, MT…  Election Day in Montana's 2007 Municipal elections is just a month away.

Tuesday, October 9th marks the close of regular voter registration, but also the beginning of the late voter registration period that allows citizens to register at local election offices up to and on Election Day.

Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund (MCVEF) wants people to be registered and voting in these often ignored elections.  City commissioners levy taxes, appoint citizens to advisory boards, make important conservation and land-use decisions and adopt budgets that affect all residents.

"City elections never seem to generate as much buzz as elections, but they should because local government can really impact the quality-of-life in our Montana communities," said Theresa Keaveny, Executive Director of Montana Conservation Voters in Billings.

Keaveny pointed out that city officials across the state are accustomed to regularly handling conservation issues.  The Billings City Council will make decisions next week regarding electronic sign ordinances and whether or not to use biodiesel, a renewable and cleaner transportation fuel, in the city's diesel fleet.  Likewise, Bozeman commissioners have this week unanimously endorsed plans to remodel the city's former library into a new city hall built with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.  Whitefish councilors are trying to establish a Critical Areas Ordinance to protect and enhance local water bodies.  Billings, Bozeman and Missoula are also signatories to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and are taking action to craft local policies and programs to reduce global warming pollution and climate change.

"It's critical that commissioners do the footwork to put forth ideas and considerations that address the health and welfare of the community for today, tomorrow and long into the future," said Sean Becker, a current Bozeman City Commissioner.  "Voters need to get involved because commissioners make all local land-use decisions, whether it's improving access to our outdoor amenities or maintaining wetlands. Commissioners are also regularly asked to weigh in on state and federal agency decisions that impact communities."

It's even more important that people be aware of the registration deadlines this year because many of Montana's registered voters in several cities across the state will automatically receive their ballots in the mail, instead of visiting a polling location.

According to Duane Winslow, acting Elections Supervisor for the Montana Secretary of State, some seventy towns and cities will use all-mailed voting on November 6th. Bozeman and Missoula also employed all-mailed voting in the September primary elections.

"There is still plenty of opportunity for people to vote in local races if they are not registered or if they have recently moved, thanks to Montana's late voter and Election Day registration period that dramatically increased turnout in the last election," said Keaveny.

The Election Day voter registration law was first implemented in 2006 and it succeeded in increasing Montana voter turnout to over 63%, which was the highest for a non-presidential election year in a decade.  Problems with the first-time procedure included poor notification of the voter registration changes to candidates and voters, which has improved in many voting locales this year.

ELECTION CALENDAR
October 9: Close of regular registration in the Nov. 6th general election. NOTE: Late registration begins. Voters may still register at the local election office up to and including on Election Day, fill out and submit a voter registration card, and vote a ballot. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, voters can drop off a voter registration card, but will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot.
November 6: Municipal General Election, polls open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. in cities and towns with polling place elections.  Voters residing in cities or towns without polling place elections have until 8 p.m. of November 6th to return mailed ballots to the county election office or to ballot drop-off boxes in their town or city. 

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