Hello.
Today, we're talking about voter registration in Montana.
I'm Roberta Zenker, staff attorney with Disability Rights Montana.
First thing we want to check on however,
before we register to vote,
is to make sure that we are not already registered to vote.
So how do I know if I'm registered to vote?
First thing, we do is visit the Secretary of State's voter registration website.
They have a page called “My Voter” page.
We usually refer to the Secretary of State as the “SOS”.
So the voter registration “My Voter” page is //app.mt.gov/voterinfo/
The second thing you can do is to call your local election office
and when you do this, don't use your nickname.
Like my name is Roberta Zenker and when I fill out official forms,
that's the name I use.
So, we don't use nicknames like “Bobbie” or hyphenated names.
So, you want to make sure and use the name that you registered with.
So, that should tell you if you're registered to vote or not.
So if you're not registered to vote, stay tuned and we'll figure out how to register to vote.
How do I register to vote?
Well, you can register to vote by mail or in person or electronically.
Let's talk about how to vote by mail.
If you're not a registered voter,
you can print out a voter registration form from the SOS website at //sosmt.gov/elections/vote/
It's a lot to remember. It's a good thing, we have it there on the screen.
So you fill out the voter registration form, print it out,
and mail the completed forms your local County election office.
Don't worry if you don't know where that is,
you can call DRM (Disability Rights Montana) 1-800-245-4743.
The numbers there on the screen. It's 1-800-245-4743.
If you would like us to mail you a voter registration
form or tell you where your local county election office is,
we have a list of every county election office in the state of Montana.
So what if I want to register to vote in person?
Well, we go to our local county election office and fill out a voter registration form again.
If you don't know where your local county election office is
DRM can help you locate the correct office.
Just call us at 1-800-245-4743.
So, if you want to you can register to vote electronically
the Secretary of State's office operates something that's called the electronic ballot request system
or EBRS for short. EBRS of the Montana Secretary of State's office has a part of it
for individuals with disabilities.
They provide a system for qualified Montana voters.
It gives them the ability to apply
for an absentee ballot, to  receive that electronically, and to mark it electronically.
Here's the directions for filling out that ballot.
Obviously, the first step is to request the ballot.
So you access EBRS from the SOS website.
Again, it's sosmt.gov/elections/disabilities/.
you can see it there on your screen now.
Don't worry, you don't have to write all this down now, it will be available on YouTube.
You can go and visit it anytime you want,
and take your time with it so you can get all these steps.
So, the next thing you do is click on the EBRS logo
or visit it directly at http://vote4mtacc.us/
You click on the register button complete the affirmation and user information.
Now, you may not know what that means right now.
But when you're on the SOS website,
you'll see it right there and then you'll know how to do it.
Then you follow the instructions for each step of the ballot request system.
Step 2. You'll get a code for the ballot access
after the county process is your absentee request.
You will receive an email from the EBRS system that includes an alpha numeric code,
or what we call a PIN, that you will need to access your electronic ballot.
Step 3 is where you actually vote.
You mark your ballot selections,
and this is just like an absentee ballot.
So you do it at your leisure,
you review and confirm your ballot selections
Step 4 is to print out the ballot
and the transmission cover sheet,
and they'll provide that for you too, and what they call envelope templates.
Then you can package it all up just like you’re mailing a letter
and you turn your ballot and supporting documents in the
U.S. Mail or in-person.
You can take it down to your county election office then,
and this is the cool part,
you can actually track your ballot at the “my voter” page that I
mentioned that the Secretary of State's website
or you can contact your county election office.
You need that PIN number though to do it.
Now I do want to mention that this EBRS at the SOS website is only available to qualified Montana voters
beginning 30 days prior to the 2020 federal elections.
That is any office that is
for a federal office, including senators
and congressmen and the president, all EBRS ballots must be voted by the close of the poll
on Election Day, November 3rd at 8 p.m.
So what do you need to register to vote?
Well your name, of course, your birth date,
you need your driver's license number
or a state-issued ID number from the Department of Motor Vehicles,
you need the last four digits of your Social Security number,
or another form of government issued ID,
you need a house address, however,
if you are homeless, a specific description of your geographic location like the campsite at whatever,
you know, campground you happen to be at,
a mailing address again,
if you are homeless, anywhere you receive mail.
Well, that's it on registering to vote.
Thank you very much for your time and attention.