In Cascade County, they opened up the arena side of the building to accommodate a massive registration line.

I’m guessing to take the edge off of waiting in this line. #mtpol #Election2024

The Daily Montanan || @dailymontanan.bsky.social crew will have live updates from across Montana through the evening and into tomorrow here: dailymontanan.com/2024/11/05/liv… w/ Darrell Ehrlick KeilaSzpaller Micah Drew #mtpol #electionday2024

An hour and 40 minutes before polls close in Montana. Voters are bundled and snacking in line in Missoula. One who just registered said he waited a couple of hours. #mtpol

Travis Tovrea, second from left, is keeping a timer and has been in line an hour and 40 minutes. A fellow line-stander, right, estimates another hour before registering. Chilly but not snowing in Missoula. #mtpol

And in Missoula... x.com/KeilaSzpaller/…

Tim Jacobs, chief of Community Emergency Response Team, said he’s worked elections since 2018 and has not seen it this busy in Missoula. “I never in my wildest dreams would have expected this.” He said he voted in Lolo in the morning and had to wait, also unusual in Lolo. #mtpol

The current line to vote in person or register to vote at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office. A man near the front of the line said he’s been in line for 2.5 hours. Elections workers are telling people it’s about a 3-hour wait. Some groups brought pizza and snacks #mtpol

The wait to register at the end of the line is three ish hours. A nonprofit is giving out chips and hand warmers and hot cocoa and bars to keep people motivated to wait in Missoula. “Pizza, anybody?” said a person walking the line. Some people brought books to read. #mtpol

Election judge Carol Miller at the Missoula library said a constant flow of voters have come through the polling place. Even if people have problems, she said they are willing to take the time to fix them. A takeaway from the day: “People were really committed to voting.” #mtpol

Reminder, Montana: If you're in line to vote at 8 p.m., you can stay in line and still vote. #mtpol

GOP loses seats in the Montana Legislature but still has majority, and "nothing happened last session that took a supermajority to accomplish.” Political analyst: Dems "did slightly better than one might have thought.” By Blair Miller: dailymontanan.com/2024/11/06/dem… #mtpol

“​​I’m here to tell you that it is a big effort to raise even $5,000 one check at a time from donors." - Sen. Welborn, also PSC-elect, on the dark money donation relative to fundraising for a campaign.

“Although I am grateful for the court’s ruling, this is the third time I have had to go to court to preserve access for my patients.” Judge temporarily, and again, halts law that requires licensing for abortion clinics. By KeilaSzpaller: dailymontanan.com/2024/11/18/abo… #mtpol #mtleg

Residential property taxes could go up again, and by a lot. Legislators hear about the fix. By Blair Miller: dailymontanan.com/2024/11/18/mon… #mtleg #mtpol

Profile of Linda McMahon in Inside Higher Ed: "Professional wrestling often serves as a punch line for those who view the spectacle with contempt, but it is massively popular and key to understanding Trump, according to some experts." insidehighered.com/news/governmen…

Biking in MT reached a record high, per this report. And MT is third in US for employment tied to outdoors: #mtpol

"We don’t need this distraction." - Rep. Bedey on a bathroom rule changed aimed at transgender legislators. Committee voted it down, could still be revived. By Blair Miller: dailymontanan.com/2024/12/03/mon… #mtpol #mtleg

Just got an email about the angst over real or fake Christmas trees. And (drumroll, please) Montana is among the 32 states where residents prefer a real Christmas tree in their home! The other 18 states, an artificial tree wins. Whew …