Montana Voter Guide GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 2020
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Montana Voter Guide GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 “Our Indigenous vote is powerful and will decide this election! We’ve done the ballot research for you and hope this voter guide helps you confidently vote for the future of our communities.” - Marci McLean, Executive Director Your vote is your voice and together we’ll make sure our voices aren’t silenced! Montana Native Vote inspires Indigenous action and builds power across our communities. 406.869.1938 Paid for by Montana Native Vote, www.mtnativevote.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. VOTE! MONTANA GOVERNOR IMPORTANT DATES - VOTING BY MAIL WHAT THEY DO Ballots will be mailed out on Friday, October 9th to all registered active Montana’s chief executive, tasked with overseeing state agencies and proposing voters and to all counties that are conducting a mail ballot election. Beginning state budgets to the Montana Legislature, is elected to a four-year term. Also is one that day, if you choose not to mail your ballot back, you can go to several of five seats on the Montana Board of Land Commissioners, which has authority locations in your area where you can securely drop off your ballot. Follow over state trust lands. Incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock is facing term limits and running us on social media for drop off sites, as well as dates and times for our for the U.S. Senate. “Get out the Vote” drive-thru sites in your area. For voter resources, go online IMPACT ON INDIAN COUNTRY to voteinmt.org. The Governor has a range of powers and responsibilities that impact Indian Country VOTER RESOURCES including: signing or vetoing legislation that directly impact Native Americans and If you choose not to mail your ballot, visit www.voteinmt.org for drop off tribal governments; appointing citizens to state boards and commissions including locations in your area, or call Montana Native Vote at 406-869-1938. the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Board of Education; hiring administrators for state agencies that interact with and offer supportive services to Native Mailed voter registration applications must be received by County Election’s Americans, and negotiation water rights. offices by Monday, October 26th. After this date, you’ll need to register to vote in-person at your county elections office. The good news is, late registration is available at any time right up through the close of polls on election day, except between noon and 5:00 p.m. the day before the election. You can learn more about late registration at www.voteinmt.org. The Native vote will be the deciding vote in our state and federal elections! In order to ensure your ballot is received and counted by your county elections office, you can check the status of your returned ballot online at Montana’s MyVoterPage at www.sosmt.gov. HERE ARE SOME COMMON SIGNS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION TO WATCH OUT FOR: GREG GIANFORTE MIKE COONEY LYMAN BISHOP Republican Democrat Libertarian • Election workers’ refusal to replace a lost mail ballot GREG MIKE LYMAN Full candidate survey available at mtnativevote.org • Claims from election officials that they are out of ballot GIANFORTE COONEY BISHOP • Election workers refusing to accept your valid identification, including Do you support adequate funding for higher education for Native American students in the University Systems and Tribal No Support N/A your tribal ID Response • Early closing of election/satellite offices, especially with no plan to Colleges, including protecting the Native American Fee Waiver options for some Universities. make up hours A woman's access to healthcare of their choice? No Support • Police or other law enforcement standing outside election/satellite Response N/A office locations No Support Equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families? Response N/A • Poor treatment/disrespect from election workers Do you support using public education funding for No No N/A • General misinformation, both deliberate and accidental private education programs? Response Will you support continued funding for Indian If you suspect any of these have happened to you, or someone you know No Education for All and oppose efforts to use this funding Response Yes N/A while trying to vote, call 800-729-3540. All reports will be taken and sent for alternative efforts? to our legal partners. U.S. SENATE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHAT THEY DO WHAT THEY DO Represents Montanans on the federal level; votes on laws and budgets, confirms Represent Montanans at the federal level; votes on laws and budgets. judicial and cabinet nominees; ratifies federal treaties. IMPACT ON INDIAN COUNTRY IMPACT ON INDIAN COUNTRY Montana has one voice in the United States House of Representatives which has The United States Senate passes laws affecting Indian Country and also confirms a critical role in passing laws and funding that impact Indian Country. The House the president’s nominees to key positions. Appointments considered by the Senate is responsible for funding water compacts, the IHS, BIA, and ensuring those funds include the U.S. Supreme Court, directors of BIA and IHS, and U.S. Attorneys are used responsibly. Recent accomplishments include recognition of the Little responsible for working with Tribal law enforcement to address legal issues. Shell Band of Chippewas, the Violence Against Women Act giving increased law The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs studies issues including Indian land enforcement authority to Tribes, and passage and funding of the Crow, Blackfeet, management and trust responsibilities, Indian education, health, loan programs, and and Confederated Salish & Kootenai water compacts. Indian claims against the United States. With oversight in such areas as maintaining the federal-tribal trust relationship, this Committee is extremely important to Indian Country. MATT ROSENDALE KATHLEEN WILLIAMS Republican Democrat STEVE DAINES STEVE BULLOCK Republican Democrat STEVE STEVE MATT KATHLEEN Full candidate survey available at mtnativevote.org DAINES BULLOCK Full candidate survey available at mtnativevote.org ROSENDALE WILLIAMS Do you support adequate funding for higher education for Do you support adequate funding for higher education for Native American students in the University Systems and Tribal No Native American students in the University Systems and Tribal No Support Response Support Response Colleges, including protecting the Native American Fee Waiver Colleges, including protecting the Native American Fee Waiver options for some Universities. options for some Universities. A woman's access to healthcare of their choice? No Support A woman's access to healthcare of their choice? No Support Response Response No Support No Support Equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families? Response Equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families? Response Do you support using public education funding for No No Do you support using public education funding for No No private education programs? Response private education programs? Response Will you support continued funding for Indian Will you support continued funding for Indian No No Education for All and oppose efforts to use this funding Response Yes Education for All and oppose efforts to use this funding Response Yes for alternative efforts? for alternative efforts? ATTORNEY GENERAL SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT THEY DO WHAT THEY DO The state’s chief law enforcement and legal officer, who oversees the state Oversees Montana’s elections and manages state records, as well as serves on the Department of Justice, issues legal opinions interpreting state law, and advocates Montana Board of Land Commissioners. Elected to a four-year term. Incumbent for the public interest in certain legal proceedings. One of five seats on the Montana Corey Stapleton made an unsuccessful primary bid for the U.S. House. Board of Land Commissioners, and is elected to a four-year term. Incumbent Tim Fox is facing term limits and made an unsuccessful primary run for Governor. IMPACT ON INDIAN COUNTRY IMPACT ON INDIAN COUNTRY The Secretary of State is the top elections official for Montana and is responsible for ensuring access to voting for Native Americans on and off reservations. From The Attorney General’s office provides legal assistance to state and local satellite voting to voter registration, the Secretary of State is responsible for allowing governments on matters involving Native American jurisdiction and federal the voices of Montana voters to be heard. This office is also in charge of approving reserved water rights. They have a duty to protect people from fraud, regulate business licenses. gambling, license drivers, and manage the highway patrol. A new position created through Hanna’s Act to investigate missing persons is located in the Attorney General’s office. AUSTIN KNUDSEN RALPH GRAYBILL CHRISTI JACOBSEN BRYCE BENNETT Republican Democrat Republican Democrat AUSTIN RALPH CHRISTI BRYCE Full candidate survey available at mtnativevote.org KNUDSEN GRAYBILL Full candidate survey available at mtnativevote.org JACOBSEN BENNETT Do you support adequate funding for higher education for Do you support adequate funding for higher education for Native American students in the University Systems and Tribal No Native American students in the University Systems and Tribal No Response Support Response Support Colleges, including protecting the Native American Fee Waiver Colleges, including protecting the Native American Fee Waiver options for some Universities. options for some Universities. A woman's access to