BOZEMAN, Mont. — As the polls closed, voters in a Montana college town found themselves braving long waits on a snowy sidewalk, yet they maintained a palpable sense of community spirit as they slowly moved toward the ballot boxes located inside the county courthouse.
Huddled beneath blankets, they munched on snacks like chips, nuts, and pizza supplied by enthusiastic volunteers. Energetic music from a makeshift street DJ kept the atmosphere lively, while glow sticks were waved around, creating a festive vibe. Despite the chilling temperatures, the group—representing a blend of political affiliations—shared a collective understanding that spending time together for a noble cause was worth every minute, even amid the frigid cold.
Among those waiting in line was Davor Danevski, a tech worker donning a puffy down jacket and a pair of thin gardening gloves. By the early morning hours, he had endured nearly five hours in line.
“I missed the last two elections while living overseas in Europe,” Danevski explained. “I wasn’t going to let it happen a third time. It’s important to take voting seriously.” As the clock struck 8 p.m. signaling the close of polling, the last ballot was ultimately cast at 4 a.m., exemplifying the commitment among the voters.
The extended waits were attributed to a recent surge in Montana’s population and an influx of individuals who procrastinated on registration updates or obtaining replacement ballots. Many of the voters were students from the nearby Montana State University.
Gallatin County, which has experienced almost a 40% increase in population since 2010, struggled with just 10 election workers in an outdated office space, designed in 1935, making it difficult to accommodate the high volume of last-minute changes.
“The building layout simply doesn’t support the volume of people Gallatin County has during elections,” County Clerk Eric Semerad remarked, emphasizing the need for future improvements.
As the sun set, temperatures dropped into the 20s (around minus 15 degrees Celsius), and Kael Richards, a project engineer, joined the line with a friend. Grateful for the snacks and hand warmers provided, Richards finally cast his vote around 1 a.m., estimating he had lined up for nearly eight hours.
“The volunteers were incredibly kind,” Richards shared. “There were moments we considered leaving, but we realized we had already invested so much time—why not see it through?”
To assist with the gathering crowd amidst the snowfall, county emergency officials were enlisted. They blocked off a road next to the courthouse and erected heated tents. “It was a fantastic solution,” Semerad noted.
The line’s length was challenging to gauge, as it twisted along the sidewalk, extended onto the road, through the tents, winding up the courthouse steps, and even into the lobby where election workers were laboring late at night.
Past elections had seen lines stretch past midnight, but Tuesday’s delay was unprecedented, with many voters opting to stay in line instead of casting provisional ballots. As the midnight hour passed, Danevski remained steadfast, eager for his chance to vote.
“For those who can, voting should always be a priority,” he concluded, embodying the dedication of those who waited so long to make their voices heard amidst the electoral hustle and bustle.