Student Voter Day was a wonderful time for students on campuses across Montana to turn in their absentee ballots, getting them to become passionate about voting. Students absolutely loved the free coffee, donuts, and hot chocolate along with the wide array of stickers that were available throughout the day. Alix and Ali, the field organizers…
Ever since I started working for Forward Montana Foundation, I’ve tried to encourage my 23 year old brother, Creath, to register to vote. One of my most recent attempts led him to respond, “Voting is just not something I ever think about doing. I don’t ever feel like I make an impact, so I really…
Job Description: Each election cycle, our staff & volunteers support about 10,000 young Montanans register to vote, update their address, or sign up to vote absentee. With school starting on campuses across the state, we’re polishing our clipboards, buying new pens, and rolling up our sleeves to register 1000s of new students in Montana. We’re…
Allison Johnson, Billings, MT Allison firmly believes it is vital that everyone, regardless of age, ensures their voices are heard. She served as a Page in the Montana House of Representatives January 2017 (Sponsor: Representative Karjala), and as a Page in the US Senate June 2018 (Sponsor: US Senator Tester); experiences that have motivated her…
When you think of Forward Montana Foundation, what comes to mind? Voter registration, of course. For years now we’ve made it our business to make sure every single millennial in the state of Montana gets registered to vote. With the primaries behind us, it’s time to dive right back onto the streets, clipboards in hand,…
Woah–what a primary! Our incredible team of staff and volunteers gave up weekends and evenings of free time to make sure their friends and classmates had everything they needed to cast their vote this June. And we did GOTV in style–with home-cooked meals from community members, posted up in the sunshine with friends, and during…
By Erin Miller, Missoula Field Manager As one of the newest staff members of the Forward Montana team, when I first heard the acronym GOTV, I had about 20 guesses as to what it could be, finally concluding it was probably another Google doc. My name is Erin and I’m the Missoula Field Manager, which…
Forward Montana worked with partners at the Montana Human Rights Network, ACLU of Montana, Pride Foundation, and others to lead a successful effort to pass a non-discrimination ordinance in Missoula and then Bozeman. Forward Montana worked with volunteers and leaders at local high schools and college campuses to be sure youth voices were heard in…
In 2014, LR-126 a statewide ballot initiative to take away same-day voter registration in Montana reared its ugly head. In an effort that would create barriers to voting access for a number of people, more heavily impacting young people, low-income people, and people of color, Forward Montana, fought back. With a plan that included strong…
For years, there had been a convenient, accessible polling place on the campus of Montana State University. But in 2012, County Commissioners moved the polling place off-campus to the Hope Lutheran Church. Instead of being able to walk safely across campus, voters without access to a car have to travel a mi le along 19th…
