In the final hours of the election, advocates working to get out the Native American vote in Montana are pulling out all the stops to connect with difficult to reach voters. Yellowstone Public Radio's Kaitlyn Nicholas reports from Hardin, where absentee ballot returns trail the rest of the state.

Lewis and Clark County voters who didn’t want to enter the elections headquarters in Helena today instead parked in a lot across the street, where staff helped them register and cast ballots through their car windows. Yellowstone Public Radio's Kevin Trevellyan caught up with several of the mid-morning “park and go” voters, and a few others outside their cars, to see what their big issues are this election season.

Even with the option to vote by mail this year, voters in Butte-Silver Bow county, and across the state are showing up in droves to drop off their ballots at polling locations. MTPR's Nora Saks spoke with Rich Henningsen, a long time volunteer with the Butte Silver Bow county Clerk and Recorder’s office, about what election day has been like so far at the Civic Center.

Voters in Missoula today dropped off their remaining ballots and stood in long lines to register and vote. MTPR’s Megan Myscofski talked to a few of them at the Missoula County Elections Office and the University of Montana’s ballot drop-off site.

In Gallatin County, where 82 percent of absentee ballots had been returned by mid-morning, around 75 people stood in line at the fairgrounds a few hours after the polls opened. Volunteers in green vests asked people from different households to stay six feet apart, which was marked by orange cones. Yellowstone Public Radio's Rachel Cramer spoke with several people after they cast their ballots.

In Yellowstone County 83 percent of absentee ballots had been returned as of this morning. Voters in Billings reported waiting two to three hours to register to vote and cast their ballots this morning at MetraPark, the main polling station for the most populated city in the state. As Yellowstone Public Radio's Jess Sheldahl reports, a few hours after the polls opened at 7 a.m. the weather was perfect for waiting.

Voters could face long lines on Election Day in some Montana counties. At the Flathead County elections office Monday, Election Manager Monica Eisenzimer said voters had been waiting in a line stretching around the building’s second floor and across a skyway all day.

Voter turnout in Montana could break an all-time record. A new poll shows the governor's race tightening. New ads in that race look to make closing arguments. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie is the victim of a Cooney campaign dirty trick. Senator Daines brings Cruz, Rubio and Don Jr. into the state for some last minute campaigning. And we may not know who won the top races until the day after election night. Listen now on Campaign Beat with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

An audit of the Secretary of State’s office suggests improvements can be made to secure the state’s elections, including hiring a security manager position that’s been vacant for multiple years.

This week we’re airing profiles on both the Democratic and Republican candidates running for a Montana U.S. Senate seat. YPR News’ Kevin Trevellyan brings us this look at Steve Bullock and his bid for federal office.