To vote in Montana:
Even if you meet the above eligibility qualifications, you cannot vote if:
For more information, please visit the Montana Secretary of State's Office for Election & Voter Services
May 7, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for Primary Election
May 10, 2024 - Ballot Mailed to Absentee Voters for Primary Election
June 4, 2024 - State Primary Election Day
October 8, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for General Election
October 11, 2024 - Ballots Mailed to Absentee Voters for General Election
November 5, 2024 - General Election Day
Congress enacted the National Voter Act of 1993 (also known as the “NVRA” or the “Motor Voter Act”), to enhance voting opportunities for every American. The Act has made it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration. Montana residents have the opportunity to register to vote at the same time that they apply for or renew a driver license or ID Card. The State automatically forwards the completed application to the appropriate state or local election official.
If you have moved or changed your name, you may update your voter registration information either online, by mail Change of Address for Driver License or ID Card (34-0300), or in person. You may also register to vote or check your voter status by visiting the Montana Secretary of State Voter information page.
It is important to understand that in order to register to vote you must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old on or before the next election, have been a resident of Montana for at least 30 days prior to the next election, you are not serving a felony conviction in a penal institution, and have not been found to be of unsound mind by a court.
A voter may cancel their voter registration by submitting a written request for cancellation and the reason for cancellation to their county election administrator.
An election judge will request your identification and verify that it is an acceptable form of identification. Typically, an elector identifies themselves with a current photo identification showing the elector's name as seen in the examples listed below:
If the elector does not present photo identification, the elector shall present a current:
If you are having difficulty obtaining identification, please contact soselections@mt.gov. If you are unable to produce any of the above identification options, please contact your county election official about the provisional voting process.
•Montana Motor Vehicle Division (Dept of Justice) Driver’s licenses
•Montana Motor Vehicle Division Online Resources
May 7, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for Primary Election
May 10, 2024 - Ballot Mailed to Absentee Voters for Primary Election
June 4, 2024 - State Primary Election Day
October 8, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for General Election
October 11, 2024 - Ballots Mailed to Absentee Voters for General Election
November 5, 2024 - General Election Day
All registered Montana voters can request an absentee ballot, and you can opt to automatically receive absentee ballots by mail in the future.
You can request an absentee ballot by mail, by phone or in person:
Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters starting on May 10, 2024, for the Primary Election and October 11, 2024, for the General Election.
Completed absentee ballots must be received by your local election administrator’s office or polling place by 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, and General Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Instructions for returning them will be included with the ballots when they are distributed.
Montana’s Statewide Elections have various options for voters with disabilities or voters who need special assistance, including the new Electronic Ballot Request System (EBRS), available for state and federal elections beginning 30 days before election day and through noon the day before election day.
Contact soselections@mt.gov if you have a voting accessibility suggestion or concern.
The Secretary of State’s office has partnered with all 56 counties in Montana to offer the ES&S ExpressVote® ballot-marking technology that provides options for all voters including those who have a disability or physical limitations to mark and cast a ballot privately and independently. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires each polling place for any Federal election be accessible and provide a voting device equipped to allow all voters the means to vote.
TheExpressVote™ and ExpressVote® voter assist terminals are ballot-marking systems that use touch-screen technology to produce a paper record for tabulation. Both are designed to provide privacy and accessibility to all voters including those who are blind, vision-impaired, or have a disability or condition that makes it difficult or impossible to mark a ballot. They are a universal voting system designed for use by all with an accessible keypad equipped with braille and the ability to use rocker panel and Sip-and-Puff devices. As a compliant ADA voting solution, theExpressVote™ or ExpressVote® allows both standing and seated voters the ability to mark and cast a ballot.
Voters who are unable to enter the polling location may ask that a ballot be brought to them by an election judge.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) created special provisions to make registering to vote, obtaining, returning and tracking absentee ballots easier for members of the armed forces and certain overseas U.S. citizens while absent from their Montana voting residence. UOCAVA electors are most commonly identified as one of the following:
An application for an absentee ballot covers all elections held through December 31 of the year following the year of application.
Completing and returning the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to the county election office is the best way for a UOCAVA voter to request an absentee ballot. UOCAVA voters are automatically sent an absentee ballot 45 days before federal elections through the calendar year following the year in which they applied. To see if you are currently registered to vote or to check your absentee ballot mailing address, please contact your county election office or visit My Voter Page.
Although UOCAVA voters are automatically sent a ballot, the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act permits UOCAVA voters to access their absentee ballot online and Montana law allows them to also return their voted absentee ballot electronically via email. Montana meets this requirement through the Electronic Absentee System, which is available for federal elections. UOCAVA voters can also request that their county election office fax or email their absentee ballot.
Absentee ballots returned electronically must be sent to the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received at the county election office by 5 p.m. on the day after Election Day.
UOCAVA voters should return their absentee ballots directly to their county election office. UOCAVA voters receiving and marking their absentee ballot online using the Electronic Absentee System are able to return their absentee ballot by email, fax, and mail. Specific county contact information is provided based on the information provided by each user.
UOCAVA voters who have received and marked a paper ballot may return their absentee ballot by email, fax, and mail. All ballots must be received by the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, unless returning electronically. If returning an absentee ballot electronically, it must be sent to the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election day, and received by 5 p.m. the next day.
Toll-free faxing – UOCAVA absentee voters may fax their election materials toll-free to the Federal Voting Assistance Program using the numbers shown below. To use this option, you must include the official fax cover sheet available on the FVAP website (click here for more information).
From the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands: (800) 368-8683, (703) 693-5527, DSN 223-5527 (Military),
For other countries – Toll-free International Fax Numbers.
For questions regarding your voter registration and absentee ballot contact your county election office or visit My Voter Page.
If you would like more information or have questions about registering or voting as a voter covered under UOCAVA, contact the Secretary of State’s Office by email: soselections@mt.gov or by phone: 1-888-884-8683 / (406) 444-9608.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) also provides information for UOCAVA voters, including an absentee voting guide for Montana UOCAVA voters.
Polling places can be located by accessing your voter information on the state's My Voting Information website.
Polling places open at 7 a.m. (smaller counties may open later; confirm with your county election office) and close at 8 p.m.
The sample ballot for the upcoming election can be accessed through the state's MY VOTER page.
If you cannot get to the polls try:
Check Carpool Vote to see if they have a ride-sharing opportunity in your area.
Initiative or referendum for the ballot – Signatures must be obtained from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 5 percent of the voters in each of 34 legislative house districts.
Constitutional amendment by initiative – Signatures must be obtained from 10 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative house districts.
A listing of ballot issues for the upcoming General Election can be found of the states Proposed Ballot Issues webpage.
May 7, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for Primary Election
May 10, 2024 - Ballot Mailed to Absentee Voters for Primary Election
June 4, 2024 - State Primary Election Day
October 8, 2024 - Late Registration Begins for General Election
October 11, 2024 - Ballots Mailed to Absentee Voters for General Election
November 5, 2024 - General Election Day
The Elections Division of the Montana Secretary of State's Office oversees elections.
Every Montanan has a right to an elections process that is open, honest, fair, and accurate.
Montanans expect that any eligible citizen in the state who wants to vote should be able to vote. They also expect that the signature gathering process for initiatives and referendums be conducted in accordance with Montana law.
Citizens and voters play a critical role in maintaining a fair election process for all Montanans.
If you witness any suspicious activity that affects elections or ballot issue signature gathering anywhere in Montana, please report it directly to our office as soon as possible by clicking the button to the right and filling out the associated form.
The COPP is charged to protect and ensure the integrity and transparency of campaigns, politics, and government in Montana. The office monitors and enforces Montana’s campaign finance laws, the ethical standards for legislators, public officers, and state employees, and investigates campaign finance and lobbying complaints. The COPP is an independent and nonpartisan office. The COPP oversees:
Montana Electronic Reporting System Dashboard
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices works to promote confidence, transparency, and accountability in Montana's democratic processes. They offer online services to help you with complaints, ethics concerns, and campaign financing.
Montana.gov lists the statewide elected officials, State Agency contact information, the State Constitution, and more.
The Montana State Legislature site lists State Legislators and their contact information. Montana State Legislature offers a "lookup" site also.
While the Montana Association of Counties no longer provides on-line contact information, check their site for other ways to locate County officials.
1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (en Español)
1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian multilingual assistance)
1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
Find useful voter information including:
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