Election Day Status Report from Patients for Reform

Patients for Reform just sent out the following message on the status so far today:

With the polls closing in six hours, we wanted to give you an update on what we’re hearing from our volunteers across Montana.

* Turnout has been brisk, but the lines haven’t been that long. However, if past elections are any guide, the earlier people vote the less time it will take.

* Our volunteers who have been on the phones have been getting great feedback, people are really appreciating information on how to stop SB 423 by voting NO on IR-124. Make some calls to your friends and family so you too can be thanked for helping guide people through the process.

* Our Honk & Waves have been getting great support from drives. Police honking horns and giving thumbs up have given volunteers a real boost.

* Turnout is looking solid, which is good news for us. While around half the ballots have already been cast via absentee, election day turnout is looking strong so far. The more people we can round up to vote after work, the better off we’ll be.

To all the members of all the organizations involved, we really appreciate all you’ve done.  you for everything.  We only have a few hours left, let’s make them count!

Below are the voting tools we sent yesterday, reposted around the state, so you can have them handy to answer any questions you get while connecting with your friends and family during these critical final hours.

Thanks, in advance, for your hustle right up until 8 PM.  We should start seeing results on the Montana Secretary of State’s website around 8:30 p.m.

_________________________

Voting Tools:

Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch has a great tool that allows people to verify that they are registered, find the location and directions to their polling place, check the status of an absentee ballot, and view a personalized sample ballot.

 https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

 There are even free iphone and android apps you can install on your smart phone!

Here are a few more things to know:

* It is NOT too late to register to vote. Montanans can register to vote on Election Day, but only at the office of their county elections administrator (or a site designated by their administrator). If you know somebody who needs to register tomorrow, have them contact their county administrator to double-check the location: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/forms/elections/electionadministrators.pdf



* It is too late to mail absentee ballots. They need to arrive by Election Day; a postmark is NOT enough. So please hand-deliver outstanding absentee ballots to your polling place.

* You need to bring ID to the polls. Acceptable forms include a photo ID showing the voter’s name; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, voter registration confirmation, government check or other government document showing the voter’s name and current address.

* Try to vote early. In Montana, the polls will be open until 8 PM (with the vast majority opening at 7 AM). If you are in line by 8 PM, you are to be allowed to vote. Also, if you are in line to register to vote by 8 PM, you will be allowed to vote. But try to vote earlier in the day.

* Don’t let anyone take away your right to vote. You may have seen some of the shenanigans evil groups are employing to try and keep people from voting. Stand up for your rights. If you have any problems, call toll-free 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or visit www.866OurVote.org and they’ll send some lawyers down to stop the bad guys from trying to illegally suppress your vote.

* Be a leader of your friends and family. Because you’ve been politically active fighting against IR-124, your friends look up to you. Answer their questions about how to vote and make sure they get to the polls. Forward them this email and ask when they are planning to vote. Follow up to make sure they did. They’ll thank you for your leadership.

Those are the big items that most people should know. If you have any further questions, here are two more links:

Secretary of State Voter Info: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/Vote/index.asp

Election Protection Montana: http://www.866ourvote.org/state/mt

Thanks for all you’ve done. With only hours left, please do even more!

www.PatientsForReform.org