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JD, Usha Vance visit Greenland as Trump administration eyes territory; Maine nurses, medical workers call for improved staffing ratios; Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations; MS aims to expand Fresh Start Act to cut recidivism.

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The Dept. of Health and Human Services prepares to cut 10,000 more jobs. Election officials are unsure if a Trump executive order will be enacted, and Republicans in Congress say they aim to cut NPR and PBS funding.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

A 'palpable shift' in interest among Montana's young voters

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Thursday, 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.

Disclosure: Forward Montana contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, LGBTQIA Issues, Reproductive Health, and Youth Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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