The Montana Republican Party confirmed Thursday it will deploy trained Republican poll watchers across the state for the Nov. 3 general election.

It's part of a growing trend nationally. Democratic and Republican party leaders in other states plan to send party members to observe the polls and report any concerns.  

Republican volunteers trained by the Montana GOP will observe and document procedures at polling locations, ballot drop boxes and during the ballot count. They're tasked with reporting any irregularities or concerns to the party's legal team. 

Montana law allows political party members to watch the elections process where a ballot is deposited, so long as they don't interfere. Poll watchers are required to fill out a form, swear an oath and wear a name badge, said Flathead County Elections Administrator Paula Buff.  

"Poll watching is not an unusual thing," Buff said.  

She's received emails from the Montana Election Observation Initiative (a University of Montana civic engagement program) and the state GOP inquiring about poll watching, but none from the state or local Democratic parties.  

The Flathead Democratic Central Committee didn't ask any of its members to watch the polls, according to Committee Chair Ron Gerson. Several party members, including himself, have already signed up to work as election judges. 

"It's not like we're uninvolved," Gerson said.  

ELECTIONEERING IS prohibited within 100 feet of ballot drop boxes, the entrance and exit of polling locations and the Elections Department at 290 B N. Main St. in Kalispell. Anything that boasts a candidate name or an initiative that's on the ballot (for example, an article of clothing, a sign or a banner) is considered electioneering.  

Since President Donald Trump is not on the ballot, material that boasts the "Make America Great Again" logo or Trump's name is allowed and not considered electioneering, Buff said.  

Anything that says "Vote Democrat/Republican" is permitted, she said, if it doesn't name a current candidate or ballot initiative. Petition signature gatherers are also allowed so long as they refrain from interfering with the flow of traffic or harassing voters or election workers. 

There are 11 polling locations with assigned voter precincts. 

Columbia Falls has a polling location at Bad Rock Fire Hall at 23 Columbia Pines Court and at the Columbia Falls Kids Foundation building at 540 Fourth Ave. W. There are three polling locations in Whitefish: the Whitefish Armory, 305 Armory Road; the Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St.; and Whitefish Moose Lodge, 230 W. 10th St.  

Voters in Kalispell may be assigned to the polls in Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center, 265 N. Meridian Road, or at Smith Valley Fire Hall, 3496 U.S. 2 W.  

There’s one polling location in Bigfork at Bethany Lutheran Church at 8559 Montana 35. Voters in Lakeside may cast their ballot at the Lakeside QRU at 201 Bills Road.  

Marion has one polling location at Marion Fire Hall at 180 Gopher Lane. Martin City voters may cast their ballot at the Martin City Fire-Lietz Hall at 320 Central Ave.  

Voters who want to cast their ballot at the polls can find their assigned precinct by entering their information in the "Voter Portal" on the Flathead County Elections Department website. A list of polling locations with assigned precincts is available through the "Polling Locations" link.  

Late voter registration closes at noon Monday and reopens on Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

All new voters must register in person at the Elections Department, with a valid driver's license, passport or state photo ID. Those without a valid Montana driver's license or state ID must also provide documents proving their residency, such as a pay stub, utility bill or bank statement.  

Changes to an existing voter registration account (for example, a new name, mailing address or signature) must also be made in person at the Elections Department.  

IT'S TOO late for voters to return absentee ballots by mail, according to elections officials. Ballots can be dropped off at one of three ballot boxes in Whitefish City Hall, Columbia Falls City Hall and the Elections Department in Kalispell on Monday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Tuesday, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

An additional drive-thru ballot drop box will open on Tuesday at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots may also be dropped off at any polling location on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Polls are open on Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Electors can still vote as long as they're in line by 8 p.m. 

A live update of unofficial election results for all races will be available on the Montana Secretary of State's website. The Flathead County Elections Department will post the unofficial results after the last ballot is cast.  

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.