Montana Voting Guide

How does voting registration work in Montana?

Some Montana voters are unsure of their eligibility to vote in an upcoming election. To determine if you are registered to vote, visit the My Voter Page.

If you did not vote in the last federal election, election officials may have changed your voter registration status to inactive. You must re-register. You can do this at a polling location. Montana also allows election-day registration.

Special programs are also in place to help people in unique circumstances register to vote. These include:

• Domestic violence survivors: Montana participates in the Address Confidentiality Program to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Montana Attorney General's office oversees this program. Once you enroll in ACP, you can create an alternate address and mail forwarding service. This helps prevent your location information from becoming available to the public. Learn more about the program here.
• Homeless and impermanent voters: If you are homeless or do not have a traditional residential address, you can still register to vote. You must show a photo ID and provide an address to receive mail. If you are registered to vote, you can vote by absentee ballot without an ID. You don’t have to risk your safety to vote in person.
• Convicted felons: If you have a felony conviction, the state temporarily suspends your voting rights. Once you complete your sentence, election officials automatically restore these rights, and you can re-register to vote. You can vote while on parole or probation.

More information can be found on the Montana Secretary of State's website.

What is Montana's voter registration deadline?

Regular voter registration closes 30 days before election day at 5 p.m. You can submit a late registration application at specific locations up until the polls close on Election Day. This late registration window is not available between noon and 5 p.m. the day before the election.

What kind of elections use only mail-in ballots in Montana?

Some municipalities or jurisdictions use mail-in ballots for local elections. This could include any of the following types of elections:

• City or township positions
• School board elections
• Fire, water, and sewer positions

For these elections, officials will mail a ballot. You can’t go to a physical location. If you do not want to mail it, you can hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Montana?

Any registered voter can request to vote by absentee ballot. Download the Absentee Ballot Request Form, complete it, and mail it to your county elections office. You can also drop it off at the local Board of Elections office.

If you want the State to mail your ballot, you must submit your application early. Election officials will need time to receive and review your application and mail your ballot. If you wait until the last minute, you may not have your ballot in time for the election.

You can deliver your application to the county election office as late as noon on the day before Election Day. You can pick up your absentee ballot that day.

If you are a military member or live overseas, you can use the FVAP website to request an absentee ballot.

What should I bring to the polls on Election Day in Montana?

When voting at the polls, you must have a current photo ID with your correct address. Most people use their Montana driver’s license.

You can also provide a photo ID card with one of the following documents showing your name and current address:

• Current utility bill
• Paycheck or government check
• Voter registration confirmation card
• Bank statement
• Other government documents

If you do not have this documentation, you can still vote. You have two options:

• You can fill out a Polling Place Elector ID form and vote. You can cast a regular ballot if officials can verify your information by contacting the Election Office.
• You can also vote using a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot only counts if you provide one of the above forms of ID to your county election official by 5 p.m. the day after the election. You can also mail it to the county election office with a postmark of the day after the election.

Are there special accommodations for Montana voters?

Every polling place in Montana has at least one special voting station for persons with disabilities. They may have an AutoMARK™ or an ExpressVote® machine. The Secretary of State Election Division website has both information and a video about how to use these machines.

When you arrive at the polling place, let a poll worker know you want to use the ADA-compliant voting booth. The accessible voting machines have audio units and breath-response capabilities.

You can bring someone with you to the polling place. You can also ask workers or volunteers for help with checking in, any step of the voting process, or checking out. You can designate a person to assist you using the Designation of Agent by Individual with Disability form.

If you have difficulty accessing the polling place, you can ask the election judge to provide curbside voting. You also have the option of absentee voting.

What if I see something illegal at the polls?

If someone tries to intimidate or harass you at the polls, tell a poll worker or ask to speak to the Chairman of the Election Board.

If you witness any suspicious activity that affects elections or ballot issue signature gathering, report it to the Secretary of State's Office as soon as possible.

You can download and fill out a Potential Election Law Violation Report for the activity you witnessed and:

• Email it to fairelections@mt.gov.
• Fax it (406) 444-2023.
• Mail it to the Fair Elections Center, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana 59620-2801

You can also report voting law violations to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A Montana Civil Rights Lawyer Can Help

Contact a local Montana civil rights attorney if you believe someone has violated your voting rights. A lawyer can also help answer questions you may have about the voting process in Montana.