Montana Voting Guide

How do I register to vote in Montana?

• For students: You can choose to:

1. Register and vote in the county where you have lived with your parents (if you consider that your permanent residence)
2. Register and vote in the county where you are going to college if that is now your permanent address. 
3. If you are an out-of-state student, you can register and vote by absentee ballot in the state where you previously lived
4. Become a resident of the State of Montana, if you have resided here for more than 30 days, and register and vote in the county where your school is located. However you choose to register and vote, you can only do so in one state.

• For survivors of violence: Montana participates in the Address Confidentiality Program to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The program is run by the Montana Attorney General's office. If you are enrolled in ACP, you can receive an alternate address and mail forwarding service for those who would be at risk of violence if they were located through public records. Learn more about the program here.
• For homeless or impermanent voters: If you are homeless or do not have a traditional street address, you can still register to vote. You will be asked to show an ID, and you will need an address where you can receive mail. If you are already registered to vote, you can vote by absentee ballot without an ID (you need a place to receive mail).
• For convicted felons: If you were convicted of a felony, your right to vote is temporarily suspended. As soon as you are released from prison, your voting rights are automatically restored and you can re-register to vote. You can vote while on parole or probation.

To determine if you are registered to vote, use the My Voter Page. If you did not vote in the last federal election and you failed to respond to two mailings sent to your registered address, your name has probably been moved to the inactive voter list. You will need to re-register. This can also be done at the polls.

When is Montana's voter registration deadline?

Regular voter registration closes at 5 p.m. thirty days before election day (for most elections). You can do a late registration at these locations from then until close of polls on Election Day (except noon to 5 p.m. the day before Election Day).

What kind of elections are mail-in ballot only in Montana?

Some municipalities or districts choose to use mail-in ballots for local elections for city or township, or for school, fire, water, and sewer positions. In this case, you will receive a ballot in the mail. There is no polling station where you can vote, but you can hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office if you do not want to mail it.

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 or drop it off at your county elections office. If you want your ballot to be mailed to you, you must submit it in time for the application to be received and the ballot to be mailed before Election Day. You can deliver your application to the county election office as late as noon, the day before Election Day, and then pick up your absentee ballot that day.

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

What do I need to bring to the polls in Montana?

When voting at the polls, you will need to show a current photo ID with your correct address, or photo ID with one of the following documents showing your name and current address:

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

If you do not have one of these forms of documentation, you can still vote. You have two options:

1. You can fill out a “Polling Place Elector ID form" and vote. If your information can be verified by contacting the Election Office, you will be allowed to cast a regular ballot.
2. If not, you can vote using a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is only counted if you provide one of the acceptable forms of ID to your county election official by 5 p.m. the day after the election (or mail it to the county election office postmarked the day after the election).

What special accommodations are available?

Every polling place in Montana has at least one specialized voting station for persons with disabilities. They may have an AutoMARK™ or an ExpressVote® machine. See the Secretary of State Election Division website for information and a video about how to use these machines. When you arrive at your polling place, let the poll worker know that you would like to use the ADA-compliant voting booth. The accessible voting machines are equipped with audio units and breath-response capabilities.

You are allowed to bring someone with you, or you can ask 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. You can also get assistance from a poll worker.

If you have difficulty physically accessing the polling place, you can ask the election judge to provide “curbside voting" service. You can also choose to use an absentee ballot to mail in your vote (see above).

What do I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

If someone tried to intimidate or harass you at the polls, tell a poll worker or ask for the chairman of the Election Board at your polling place.

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 email a report of the activity you witnessed to: fairelections@mt.gov.
• Download and fax a report of the Potential Election Law Violation Report to (406) 444-2023.
• Download and mail a Potential Election Law Violation Report to the Fair Elections Center, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana 59620-2801

Be aware of voter suppression activities in your state, such as the political mailer sent to voters in 2018 providing an inaccurate date for the return of absentee ballots.

If you see inaccurate information like this sent to voters, report it to the Secretary of State's Office, Election Division. You can also report voting law violations to the U.S. Department of Justice. Or you may choose to contact a local Montana attorney experienced in voting law if you feel your voting rights have been violated.