Oct. 4 voter registration cut-off nears

| September 29, 2004 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

Monday is the deadline to register for voting in the Nov. 2 general election.

Paula Robinson, Flathead County Clerk and Recorder, said all new and updated registration forms must be in the election department office by 5 p.m. Oct. 4.

The office is in the Flathead County courthouse, 800 S. Main St., Kalispell. The phone number is 758-5535 or 758-5877.

Voters can pick up registration forms there or at offices of the Columbia Falls and Whitefish city clerks.

Forms also are available from Republican and Democratic party headquarters in Kalispell. The Democrats are at the corner of Main and Montana Street, next to Moose's Saloon.

The Republicans are at 1807 Third Ave. E., behind the Outlaw Inn and south of Western Building Center.

Absentee ballots also are available, beginning Monday and continuing through noon Nov. 1. Fill them out in person at the election department between those dates or ask the department to mail them.

Written requests for absentee ballots must include the address to which the ballot should be mailed, your date of birth and your signature.

All voted absentee ballots must be returned to a polling place or the election department by 8 p.m. election day - Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Absentee ballots for military personnel and overseas U.S. citizens will receive first priority for mailing out. But those voters still must follow the same deadlines as everyone else for registration and voting.

On election day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with two exceptions: Voting will be from noon to 8 p.m. at the Essex QRU building and Pleasant Valley School.

If you don't know where you vote, call the election department before election day.

Bring one form of identification to vote. This may be a photo ID which contains your name (a Montana driver's license or state ID will work), your voter registration card, passport, or an item such as a utility bill showing your name and mailing address.