Voting in Montana

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Montana:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Montana, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Montana for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. People serving a felony sentence in a penal institution and those who have been declared by a court to be of unsound mind are not eligible to vote.[1]

Citizens can register to vote in person by completing a registration application at their county election office. They can register by mailing the application to their county election administrator or submitting it when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID. Citizens may also register to vote at their county election offices, certain designated locations, or at their designated polling location on Election Day.[1]


In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Montana, polling place hours vary throughout the state. Most polling places open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m., although in areas with fewer than 400 registered voters, polling places may open as late as 12:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Montana requires voters to present identification while voting.

Montana's voter identification requirements are outlined in Section 13-13-114 of Montana Code, as amended when SB 169 was signed into law on April 19, 2021. The law states, "Before an elector is permitted to receive a ballot or vote, the elector shall present to an election judge one of the following forms of identification showing the elector's name:"[3]

“

(i) Montana driver's license, Montana state identification card issued pursuant to 61-12-501, military identification card, tribal photo identification card., United States passport, or Montana concealed carry permit; or
(ii) (A) a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address; and
(B) photo identification that shows the elector's name, including but not limited to a school district or postsecondary education photo identification. [4]

”

On March 27, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the portion of SB 169 that precluded the use of student ID for voter identification was unconstitutional. See here for more.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Montana permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Montana. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[5]

To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by county election officials by noon the day prior to the election. A returned absentee ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day in order to be counted.[5]



Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Montana, people convicted of a felony receive automatic restoration of their voting rights upon release from incarceration.[6]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[7]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Montana can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Montana county election administrators

Click here for a list

Montana Secretary of State, Elections Division

Montana State Capitol, Room 260
P.O. Box 202801
1301 E 6th Avenue
Helena, Montana 59620
Phone: 406-444-9608
Email: soselections@mt.gov
Website: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices

1209 8th Ave
P.O. Box 202401
Helena, Montana 59620-2401
Phone: 406-444-2942
Fax: 406-444-1643
Email: cpphelp@mt.gov
Website: https://politicalpractices.mt.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Elections in Montana


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Montana Secretary of State, “How to Register to Vote,” accessed August 18, 2024
  2. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Elections & Voter Services: 2022 Polling Places", accessed August 18, 2024
  3. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2021, "Section 13-13-114." accessed August 18, 2024
  4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 19, 2023
  6. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "How to Register to Vote," accessed August 18, 2024
  7. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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