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By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - Forward Montana is holding a voter education "weekend of action" November 2 and 3. Organizers report a "palpable shift" among young voters since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee and a sharp uptick in voter registration for people between ages 18 and 35. Comments from Sophie Scothern (SKAH-thern), Missoula voter engagement organizer, Forward Montana.
Click on the image above for the audio. Forward Montana field workers said they noticed a "palpable shift" in interest among young voters almost immediately after Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee. (Adobe Stock)
Mark Moran
October 24, 2024 - Groups working to get out the vote this November report a "palpable shift" among Montana's young voters since Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Forward Montana is organizing a voter education effort the weekend prior to the election. The "weekend of action" will focus on educating voters and answering questions just a few days prior to the election.
Sophie Scothern, Missoula voter engagement organizer for the group, said there will be an important focus on young voters, from whom she has been hearing.
"Based on our own research, we know that housing affordability and access to housing, inflation, LGBTQ+ issues and reproductive rights are on the top of the mind for young people," Scothern reported.
She pointed out Forward Montana will be providing transportation for college students who want to vote in person but need help getting to the polls on Election Day. The group is also helping people who want to vote by mail. Monday is the last day to mail a ballot for the Nov. 5 election and Forward Montana is urging voters to get their ballots in the mail as early as possible.
Scothern, who spends time in the field hearing from voters, noted there was an uptick in voter registration numbers for people ages 18-35 and a sharp jump in interest in the race among young Montanans after Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee.
"Before Biden dropped out, the majority of what I was hearing was a general feeling of concern that neither presidential candidate really represented what young people wanted to vote for," Scothern explained. "Then, everything really changed. From the first day I was out in the field after Harris announced her campaign, the energy I felt from young people had just completely transformed."
Forward Montana has published online and paper voter guides to help people learn about the candidates. The group's weekend of action is scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3.
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