Montana

Election Day:

Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Date. However, for polling places with less than 400 registered voters, polls must open by 12:00 p.m. until earlier of 8:00 p.m. or close immediately once all registered voters in all precincts have closed. Voters who are present in line by 8:00 p.m., must be allowed to vote.

How to Find your Polling Place:

Visit the Montana Secretary of State’s My Voter Page website to find where to vote. 

Required to vote at assigned Polling Place: 
Yes, a voter must go their assigned polling place on Election Day and may find it using the Montana Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” website: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

Registration Deadlines

• For registration deadlines, see How to Register below.

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: Am I Registered?.

You are eligible to vote in Montana if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen
• Are a resident of Montana
• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election

If you have lived in Montana for 30 days, you are eligible to vote in Federal Election. You need not have lived within the same precinct (or even the same county) for 30 days prior to the election. You can vote one last time under the old address, or register and vote under the new address (applicable to regular and late registration deadlines and procedures).

You are NOT eligible to vote in Montana if:

• You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
• A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

How to register 

• Montana Municipal General Elections
  • Register By: Tue Oct 10, 2023
  • Submit an Application: Received by Fri Oct 13, 2023
  • Submit a Printed Application: Postmarked by Tue Oct 10, 2023

Registration Deadlines:

• Generally, 30 days before any election. 
• Voter registration for the November 8, 2022, general election is October 11, 2022.
• Registration forms postmarked by this date and received within 3 days are accepted for regular registration.
• If a voter misses the deadline, they may register and vote in the election by late registering at their county election office or designated location, no later than noon on the day before the election.

Ways to register to vote: 

• Visit the county election office Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to complete a registration form.
• Voter Registration Application: https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Montana_Voter_Registration_Application.pdf
• Absentee Ballot Application can be found here.
• To check your registration status: My Voter Page – Montana Secretary of State (mt.gov).
• Voters who are on the inactive list and want to reactivate registration, can do so here or learn about other options here.
• Completing the voter registration form when applying for a drivers license. 
• If the voter is a student attending college in another county, he or she can:
  • choose to vote in their county of permanent residence, either in person at the polls or by absentee ballot; or
  • register in the county where they are going to college and vote in that county.

Registration status can be checked at: “My Voter Page” website (https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/).

Who is Eligible to Registration: 

• Be 18 years old or older on or before the next election. 
• Be a U.S. Citizen.
• Have lived in Montana for at least 30 days. 
• Be a resident of Montana and of the county in which you plan to vote at least 30 days before the election. 

Who is Not Eligible: 

• If a convicted felon is serving a sentence in a penal institution. 
• Is determined by a court of law to be mentally incompetent.

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Montana Municipal General Elections

Ballot Request:

• Mon Nov 6, 2023 12:00PM MST

Ballot Return:

• Tue Nov 7, 2023 8:00PM MST

• An absentee ballot application can be found here.
• For disabled individuals seeking to submit absentee application electronically: Absentee-Application-for-Electronic-Ballot-for-Individual-with-Disability.doc (live.com)
• Instructions for completing absentee ballot application can be found here.

To Requesting an Absentee Ballot:

• By phone 
• Facsimile 
• Online 

Submitting absentee ballots: 

• A list of election offices where voters may drop off completed absentee ballots can be found here.
• Drop off at the county election office in person.
• By mail in a way it will be received by the election office prior to 8:00 p.m.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Montana you should provide one of the following:

• Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
• Your Montana Driver’s License Number
• Montana ID Card
• Valid Military ID
• Valid Tribal ID
• U.S. Passport
• Concealed Carry Permit

If you do not have any of these IDs, you must provide a copy of a valid photo ID together with one of the following with your registration application:

• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
• Utility Bill
• Government Check
• Bank Statement
• Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address

Voting In-Person

If you are registered to vote in Montana, you are required to show ID to vote. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Valid Montana Driver’s License
• Montana ID Card
• Valid Military ID
• Valid Tribal ID
• Valid US Passport
• Concealed Carry Permit

If you do not have an ID from the above list, bring a valid photo ID together with at least one of the following additional documents:

• Current Utility Bill
• Paycheck that Shows your Name and Address
• A Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
• Bank Statement
• Government Check
• Voter notification or confirmation card

If you cannot produce any of these requested ID documents, contact your County Election Office about provisional voting.

Voter Registration ID Requirements: (A list of permitted ID is found here)

• Montana driver’s license 
• Montana State Identification ID
• U.S. Passport
• Military identification card 
• Tribal Photo ID 
• Montana concealed carry permit
• Social Security card 

Note: All forms of ID must be valid (not expired). 

ID Requirements for Ballots Submitted by Mail: 

When returning the absentee ballot, the following identification within the outer signature envelope along with the voted ballot in the secrecy envelope can be provided: 

• Montana driver’s license number, Montana state I.D. or the person’s last for digits of their social security number
• A readable copy of their military identification card, a tribal photo identification, a U.S. passport, a Montana college or University identification card, or a Montana conceal and carry permit. 
• Any form of readable photo identification with the individual’s name.

No Voter ID or Improper ID?

• Voters can still vote without an ID by filling out and submitting a “Polling Place Elector ID” form here. 
• If no ID or if the ID is improper, the voter can vote by casting a provisional ballot.

Voters who have recently moved and have not updated their voter registration: 

Moved within the same precinct: 

• The voter should go to the polling place for that precinct. 

Moved to a different precinct but within the same county: 

• The voter is entitled to cast a regular vote at the polling place, an absentee ballot, or a mail ballot in the precinct where the voter is registered.  The voter may only do this for the first election after their move.  Furthermore, the voter must state their new address when offering to vote, and must complete a transfer form or new registration form to make the necessary correction before being allowed to vote in a polling place election.

Moved to a different county: 

• The voter must register in the new county of residence in order to vote.  However, a voter who moved to a different county 30 days or less before an election may (i) vote in person or by absentee ballot in the precinct and county where previously registered; or (ii) update the voter’s registration information and vote in the voter’s new county of residence

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

The Military and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) covers the following voters:

• members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty;
• spouses and dependents of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty;
• U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.; and 
• other individuals included in the definition of “absent uniformed services voter” and “overseas voter” under Montana law. 

UOCAVA voters who are already registered to vote in Montana may apply for a military-overseas ballot by:

• using a regular absentee ballot application for the voter’s jurisdiction;
• using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA);
• making a written request, which must include the voter’s birth date and signature; or
• making an electronic request that includes the voter’s birth date and affirmation of the voter’s eligibility to vote under the Monday Absent Uniformed and Overseas Voters Act. 
• UOCAVA voters who are not yet registered may use a FPCA to simultaneously register to vote and request a military-overseas ballot. 

FPCAs may be completed and submitted online with the Secretary of State’s Electronic Absentee System (EAS). The EAS is available 45 days before federal elections, through 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. FPCAs can also be returned to the voter’s county election office via email, fax and mail. The FPCA and related information can be found on the Federal Voting Assistance Program  website.

Voting Eligibility with a Criminal Record: 

• As long as the voter is not currently incarcerated for a felony.

When does someone regain eligibility?

Once released, convicted persons are again eligible to vote.  

Steps to regain voting eligibility: 

• Returning citizens can vote if on probation or parole.  
• Once released from the penal institution, a returning citizen should re-register to vote.  This is because the law allows a person incarcerated for a felony to be removed from the list of registered voters.