Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio interviewed Montana's statewide general election candidates. Austin Knudsen is the 2020 Republican candidate for Attorney General. Knudsen is currently the county attorney for Roosevelt County. He spoke with Montana Public Radio’s Corin Cates-Carney about his plans to shift funds from Helena to local law enforcement, being tough on drugs and violent crime, and maximizing the return on state trust lands.

The Blackfeet Nation announced Wednesday that it settled with Pondera County officials after the county allegedly refused to open a satellite voting office on the reservation.

The November general election is only three weeks away but thousands of Montanans are already voting. Political candidates are traveling across the state to drive up voter turnout.

Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio interviewed Montana's statewide general election candidates. Bryce Bennett is the 2020 Democratic candidate for secretary of state. Bennett is currently a state senator and former state representative from Missoula. He shared his views on automatic and online voter registration, the secretary of state’s role as an advocate against dark money in politics and his plans for a statewide business council with Montana Public Radio’s Corin Cates Carney.

Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio interviewed Montana's statewide general election candidates. Christi Jacobsen is the 2020 Republican candidate for secretary of state. Jacobsen is currently the deputy Secretary of State, with a previous career in the private telecom industry. She shared her plan for strengthening election security, support of a voter ID law and promises not to raise business filing fees with Montana Public Radio’s Corin Cates Carney.

For the first time, almost every county in Montana is using all-mail in ballots this election season. Voters can still drop off their ballots in person if they want. But experts say mailing ballots is the best way to make the election accessible during the pandemic. This new system is bringing with it all kinds of uncertainties about logistics, reliability and the timeframe of the results. Still, election officials are trying to figure out how to make it work for everybody. This is Shared State

The new governor will either uphold Montanans' access to legal abortion or restrict that access. New TV ads in the Senate race question, and defend Gov. Bullock's treatment of women. New polls in that race show contradictory results. And the two candidates for Secretary of State differ on whether Montanans should vote by mail. Listen now on Campaign Beat with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

Voters next month will decide if Montana should become the latest state to legalize the use and sale of recreational marijuana. A pair of measures to open the state’s cannabis market to adults 21 and older appear on ballots. Proponents say legalizing pot would not only advance personal liberty, but also turbo-charge the state’s economy. Critics, however, say the risks far outweigh the potential benefits.

The Democrat and Republican vying to be Montana’s next governor traded salvos during a debate hosted by MontanaPBS Tuesday night. The debate highlighted deep contrasts between Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte on the COVID-19 pandemic, education funding and concealed carry permits in Montana.

The candidates for Attorney General say changes are needed in Montana’s Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division to make it more user friendly and efficient.