Welcome to the Exponent’s election edition

Hey Bobcats, it’s that time of year again — election season! By now, your inbox, voicemail and physical mailbox have probably been flooded with seemingly endless campaign advertisements telling you who to vote for and why. Well, fret not — here’s one more piece of election-related reading material. But we promise, this one is actually useful.

Every year, the Exponent puts together a voter guide to help students navigate Montana’s elections and make informed decisions at the ballot box. Between campaign advertisements, competing promises and unfamiliar names on the ballot, figuring out what candidates actually stand for can be overwhelming. And with so much information competing for your attention, it can be difficult to determine which candidates and policies align with your values. This is where the Exponent comes in. 

In this year’s election edition, you’ll find candidate questionnaires from people running for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Montana Legislature in districts representing Bozeman. These questionnaires give candidates an opportunity to share their positions on the issues that matter to Montanans. We’ve also included articles breaking down this year’s ballot measures to help explain what they would potentially do. Finally, you’ll find a few opinion pieces offering additional perspectives on the issues surrounding this election.

Montana has its own rules for registering to vote and casting a ballot, and navigating those requirements is an important part of participating in the electoral process. Whether you’re voting for the first time or have been doing this for years, we hope this guide helps you understand your options, ask the right questions and feel more confident heading to the polls.

Your vote is yours to make. Our job as a newspaper is to help you make it an informed one.

Editor-in-Chief,

Molly Houser