Published Sept. 6, 2024

Dear Bobcats,

The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5, and now is the time to register to vote. Montana State University is required under U.S. Code 20, Section 1094, to issue an email reminder to students to register to vote.

The right to vote is precious. American women could not vote until 1920 and the passage of the 19th Amendment. Some states still barred American Indians from voting as recently as 1957, and poll taxes, which were commonly used to disenfranchise Black voters, weren't prohibited until 1964. And it was 1971 before the 26th Amendment finally guaranteed the right to vote to those 18 and older.

Voting in our nation's elections is a fundamental right. I urge you to exercise your right to vote every time you have an opportunity to participate in an election. Throughout history, many elections at multiple levels of government have been decided by just a handful of ballots: Your vote matters.

In Montana, regular voter registration closes 30 days before the election. For this year, voter registration ends on Oct. 7. Late registration begins Oct. 8 and is available until noon the day before the election. Late registration must be accomplished at county election offices.

MSU students, regardless of their state of origin, can register to vote in Montana's elections, provided they have lived in the state for at least 30 days. Importantly, though, they cannot vote in elections in both Montana and their home state; they must choose one or the other.

The Montana Secretary of State is the official source of voter registration information. You can visit that office's votemt.gov site to learn about voting in Montana, check on your registration status, see your polling location and download necessary forms. From that site, you can download and print voter registration forms that must then be mailed or dropped off at the appropriate county election office. There is no online voter registration in Montana.

Again, regular voter registration closes Oct. 7, and late registration begins the following day. You can find additional information on the university's website.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, Montana State University's Student Wellness Center will be the polling place for voters registered in Precinct 61A and 61B. That location will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As responsible citizens, I urge you to get registered and to vote early.

Sincerely,

Waded Cruzado

Waded Cruzado
President, Montana State University