Lewis and Clark County voters who didn’t want to enter the elections headquarters in Helena today instead parked in a lot across the street, where staff helped them register and cast ballots through their car windows.
Yellowstone Public Radio's Kevin Trevellyan caught up with several of the mid-morning “park and go” voters, and a few others outside their cars, to see what their big issues are this election season.
With Yellowstone Public Radio News I'm Kevin Trevellyan. Lewis and Clark County voters who did not want to enter the elections headquarters in Helena today. Instead parked in a lot across the street or staff helped them register and cast ballots through their car windows. I caught up with several of the mid morning park and go voters and a few others outside their cars to see what their big issues are this election season.
Cami Linguista: I am Cammie Linguista, I lived here all my life. Let's just say things could go a heck of a lot better. I'm trying to raise my smallest ones, not to be bullies and hit and fight and stuff. And how do you do that? When all your state officials are showing your youngest generation how to act. This is not a loving, nurturing U.S. anymore.
There is only one person I'm voting for and that is Trump for the pure fact that he has at least a brain in his head still.
Jared Atkinson: My name is Jared Atkinson. I work at Missouri River Brewing Company and I live in East Helena. I mean, the state seems to be running pretty efficiently. I don't really see any issues with the state Legislature or anything they've done so far.
As far as from the federal government, I mean, I think there's obviously election reform that needs to happen. It's probably time to either expand, you know, the House of Representatives and make it representative of the actual population or do away with the Electoral College altogether and go to an actual democratic vote.
Kevin Trevellyan: Is there any particular candidate you're excited to vote for this year? And if so, why?
Jared: Yeah, Joe Biden man. I usually register independent. I think the Republicans have been fading for a long time and I think they pretty much nailed their own coffin shut when they put Trump up as their presidential candidate in 2016 and now again in 2020,
I think it's a regressive set of policies. If you can even nail down a policy, they have, because they haven't stated any policies his entire election cycle.
Trisha Hellems: My name is Trisha Hollums and I'm from Havre Montana. Originally just moved here two years ago and I am the night freight supervisor at Home Depot.
Kevin: You have a little pup with you.
Trisha: I do, this is Pepper. Can you say hi Peppers?
I'm a kind of more Libertarian than I am anything else. And it's pretty awesome to see a lot more of those on the ballot this year as well.
Kevin: Are there any ballot issues in Montana that you care about?
Trisha: I guess one of the things would be to legalize marijuana. I'm not a user myself, but I've heard of a lot of places that have already legalized it and how much the tax money from it has beneficiated [sic] the school system. Systems and other state funded areas.
Dennis Clark: My name is Dennis Clark. I'm from Helena and I am a merchandiser for Pepsi. As far as Montana goes, I'm not too thrilled.
Bullock for example, got the "F rating" from the NRA. And to me, the Second Amendment is highly important. I served in the U.S. Army. I served over in Iraq and when I took that oath, I knew what I was fighting for and what the Constitution supports. And the majority, not all of them, but the majority of Democrats kind of oppose or want to change what I fought to protect, and that goes highly against what I stand for.
Roxy: My name is Roxy. I live in Helena and I'm a baker. Fairly concerned about where things are headed in Montana right now. But, you know, turnout looks really good this year and so optimistic for the future. I'm mostly just worried about our access to public land. Specifically Gianforte’s ties to oil and gas.
And I'm also concerned about the GOP trying to restrict access to marriage equality. I just got married this year and I'm very concerned that that's going to be threatened in the coming future.
You know, I'm really excited to vote for Cooney. I think he's going to be great for Montana. Super excited to see a woman in the White House, whatever position that may be. And as far as everything else down the ballot, just trying to keep it stable.
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