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:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information election agencies.
- Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.
See Election administration in Montana for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.
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
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Montana's 2024 election cycle.
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
The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Montana's 2024 election cycle.
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 |
” |
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
The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Montana's 2024 election cycle.
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
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
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
- 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
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: [email protected]
- 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: [email protected]
- 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: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Noteworthy events
2022
Montana judge strikes down same-day voter registration, student voter identification, and third-party ballot collection laws
On September 30, 2022, a Montana judge struck down as unconstitutional state laws that ended same-day voter registration, added additional voter identification requirements for students, and set new rules for third-party ballot collection. Judge Michael Glen Moses wrote that the student voter identification law was written "to reduce voting by young people for perceived political benefit” and that the ballot collection law had a discriminatory purpose targeting Native American voters.[8]
On November 22, 2022, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen (R) filed an appeal with the Montana Supreme Court.[9]
In April 2022, Moses had issued a temporary injunction blocking the three laws from taking effect for the June primary election.[10] The Montana Supreme Court upheld Moses' injunctions on September 21, 2022, while the case played out.[11]
As of November 2022, the Montana Secretary of State's website provided voters with the following information on same-day voter registration: "Late registration closes at noon on the day before an election. ... This provision will not be enforced for the 2022 general election based on the court order issued on September 30, 2022. Registrations before the close of polls on Election Day will be processed."[12]
2021
On April 19, 2021, Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed SB169 and HB176 into law, amending Montana's election laws as follows:[13]
- SB169 modified the state's voter identification laws, effective immediately, requiring that a voter present either of the following:[14]
- A "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."
- A "current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address" and "photo identification that shows the elector's name, including but not limited to a school district or postsecondary education photo identification."
- HB176 moved the deadline for late voter registration from 5:00 p.m. on Election Day to 12:00 p.m. on the day preceding Election Day, effective immediately.[15]
Multiple groups filed separate lawsuits (listed below) challenging various provisions of SB169 and HB176:
- Montana Democratic Party v. Jacobsen (filed April 19, 2021, in the Yellowstone County District Court)
- Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen (filed May 17, 2021, in the Yellowstone County District Court)
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
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The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
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- The Ballot Bulletin: November 22, 2024
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- The Ballot Bulletin: November 1, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 25, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 18, 2024
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
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- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- Voter ID in Montana
- Election administration in Montana
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Montana
Elections in Montana
- Montana elections, 2024
- Montana elections, 2023
- Montana elections, 2022
- Montana elections, 2021
- Montana elections, 2020
- Montana elections, 2019
- Montana elections, 2018
- Montana elections, 2017
- Montana elections, 2016
- Montana elections, 2015
- Montana elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Montana Secretary of State, “How to Register to Vote,” accessed August 18, 2024
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Elections & Voter Services: 2022 Polling Places", accessed August 18, 2024
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2021, "Section 13-13-114." accessed August 18, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 19, 2023
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "How to Register to Vote," accessed August 18, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Montana judge knocks down Republicans' tighter voting laws," archived October 4, 2022
- ↑ Montana Free Press, "Secretary of State appeals rulings that struck down new election laws," November 23, 2022
- ↑ AP News, "Montana judge temporarily blocks new election laws," April 6, 2022
- ↑ AP News, "Montana law ending Election Day voter registration on hold," September 21, 2022
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "How to Register to Vote," archived November 2, 2022
- ↑ State of Montana Newsroom, "Governor Gianforte Signs Election Security Bills," April 19, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "SB169," accessed April 21, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB176," accessed April 21, 2021
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