Voting & Elections Toolkits

Deadline

• Register to vote by 5 PM 30 days before election day.
• Late registration for most elections at the county election office or the designated location.
• Montana 2019 Municipal Primary and General Election Calendar
• Montana 2020 Election Calendars

Voter Registration

• Download a registration form
  • Print, complete and return to your county election office at least 30 days before election day
• OR: Late register after the 30-day regular registration deadline at your county election office or the designated location up to and including on election day, except for from noon until 5:00 p.m. the day before election day.

Fill out a registration form when you apply for or renew your driver’s license or State of Montana ID at the office where you apply for or renew your Montana driver’s license.

Updating or Cancelling Registration

Use the “My Voter Page”  to update or check your voter status.

ID Requirements for Voting

When voting at the polls, a current photo ID showing the elector’s name; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, voter registration confirmation, government check or other government document showing the elector’s current name and current address must be presented.

If you do not have any of the items listed above, you can still vote by requesting and filling out a “Polling Place Elector ID” form.

Or, you can vote a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted if you provide one of the items on the list to the county election office by 5:00 p.m. the day after the election, or mail it to the county election office postmarked by the day after the election.

Where to get an ID

Department of Motor Vehicles:

• Locations

Obtaining a Driver’s License

•Montana Motor Vehicle Division (Dept of Justice) Driver’s licenses & ID Cards

•Montana Motor Vehicle Division Online Resources

Absentee voting

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot.

You can make a one-time request for an absentee ballot or you can request an absentee ballot for all elections. If you choose to receive a ballot for all elections, you're on the list for good! The only way your status would drop is if you move and do not notify the elections office. You must be a registered voter to request an absentee ballot. 

Absentee ballots for federal/state elections are mailed to eligible voters 25 days before election day. 

To vote absentee:

• Fill out an Application for Absentee Ballot.
• An application may be mailed, or dropped off at the county election office.
• Applications must be received by the county election office by noon the day before the election. If you drop off the application you will be able to pick up the absentee ballot at the same time.
• An absentee voting packet will be mailed to the address you indicated on your application, or you can pick up the packet at the county election office at the time you apply for the absentee ballot, if ballots are available at that time.
• After voting the absentee ballot, return in the envelope(s) provided. READ INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THE PACKET CAREFULLY. You can also view or print federal/state election absentee voting instructions.
• Be sure to sign the affirmation on the return envelope before sending back or dropping off.  Note: The person to whom the ballot was issued must be the person signing the return envelope.
• Absentee ballots must be received at the election office or polling place by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

• Montana Electronic Absentee System

Note: the Electronic Absentee System is for voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) only. A user must affirm their eligibility under this Federal Law before using the system, under penalty of perjury.

In addition to the availability of the Electronic Absentee System, ballots are sent to the most current address on file for eligible military and overseas citizen voters 45 days before election day. The Secretary of State encourages covered voters to submit a new FPCA every year (and each time they move).

• 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:

• Member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty
• Spouse or dependent of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty.
• U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S.
• Other individuals meeting definitions of “absent uniformed services voter” and “overseas voter” in Montana law (13-21-102, MCA).

Polling places and hours

•Use My Voter to locate polling information

• Department of the Secretary of State in Montana voting information

Rides to the polls

If you cannot get to the polls try:

• You can vote by mail.
• You can catch a ride with a friend or neighbor.
• Call your local election office to find out who is providing transportation in your community. Locate your office using My Voter.

Check Carpool Vote to see if they have a ride sharing opportunity in your area.

Help for voters with disabilities

Election and Voting services for voters with disabilities.

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.

• EBRS – Overview
• EBRS – Voter FAQs
• Braille Voter Information Pamphlet is available upon request.  Please contact the Secretary of State’s Office at 406-444-9608 or email soselections@mt.gov
• Every polling place in Montana has at least one specialized voting machine, called an AutoMARK, that enables people with disabilities to vote independently and privately.
• If you cannot enter a polling place, election judges will assist you with “curbside voting.”
• If you have a physical disability or are unable to read or write, you may ask an election judge to help you mark your ballot. Or, you can bring any individual (other than your employer or employer’s agent or union agent) who, with the permission of the election judge, can go into the voting booth with you and help you vote.
• You may also designate an agent to assist you with the voting process on the Designation of Agent by Individual with Disability form. Deliver the signed application to your local election office.
• You may apply for an electronic ballot that can be marked on your personal computer, printed and returned by mail or in person to the election office.
• The Voter Information Pamphlet published by the Secretary of State for each state general election is available in Braille and audio formats.
• Accessible Forms

Contact soselections@mt.gov if you have a voting accessibility suggestion or concern.

2018 audio and large type ballots were located below. Current ballots will be updated. Contact soselections@mt.gov  if these do not update.

• Large Print Voter Information Pamphlet
• Audio version is found on the 2018 Ballot Issues site

Ballots

Use the MY VOTER  page to see a sample ballot.

Current Measures on the 2020 Montana Ballot

Who are the candidates, and what else is on the ballot?

Ballot Issue Overview, Forms, and Guidelines

Proposed 2020 Ballot Issues:
A citizen proposed ballot issue can only appear on the federal general election ballot once the proposed language has fulfilled three requirements. First, the language must be submitted to Montana’s Legislative Services Division. Second, the Montana Attorney General must conduct a legal review. Finally, after the review process is complete, and the sponsor has been notified by the Secretary of State of the approval or rejection of the ballot issue, the sponsor must collect sufficient verified signatures from qualified voters in Montana.

Important Dates

The general election will be: November 3, 2020

The Montana State Elections Calender may be updated. Check frequently.

Who conducts elections?

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.

Montana Fair Elections Center

Where to go with complaints about candidates or how elections are conducted

Montana Fair Elections Center

Campaign finance

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.

How to contact your elected officials:

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.