How to vote in Montana
Montana voter registration guide
Montana voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Regular registration closes 30 days before any election. Late registration is an option for people who miss the regular registration deadline. It is available starting the day after the close of regular registration and ends at noon on the day before the election. Late registration must be done at the county election office (or at the location designated by the election administrator), not at a polling place.
Check your Montana voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Montana registration using the Montana voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Montana voter registration rules
To register in Montana you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- be a resident of Montana and of the county in which you want to vote for at least 30 days before the next election
- not be in a penal institution for a felony conviction
- not currently be determined by a court to be of unsound mind
- meet these qualifications by the next Election Day if you do not currently meet them.
Montana online voter registration
Montana does not have online voter registration.
Montana by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Montana driver’s license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, please write “NONE” in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Montana does not require party registration to participate in any election.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day .
Montana in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Montana driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Montana address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Montana same day registration
- Summary: Montana has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your Local Election Office. Click here to lookup the address.
- What to bring:
Bring your Montana driver's license. If you do not have a driver's license, you must provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you can use one of these alternate forms of identification: a current and valid photo identification, including but not limited to a school district or postsecondary education photo identification or a tribal photo identification, with your name; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and current address. The alternative form of identification must be an original version presented to the election administrator.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
- Notes:
Regular registration closes 30 days before any election. Late registration is an option for people who miss the regular registration deadline. It is available starting the day after the close of regular registration and ends at noon on the day before the election. Late registration must be done at the county election office (or at the location designated by the election administrator), not at a polling place. For the 2022 general election, registration on Election Day will also be available.
Registering to vote in Montana with a felony conviction
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote.
Montana absentee and mail ballot guide
Montana absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Montana absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Montana absentee ballot rules
Any registered Montana voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Montana online ballot request
Montana does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Montana by-mail ballot request
- Download the Montana absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 1 day before Election Day .
Montana in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Montana absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Montana absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Montana absentee ballot tracker
Montana absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Montana emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesIf you have an illness or health emergency occurin between 5PM the Friday before Election Day and the close of polls on Election Day, you may request an emergency absentee ballot. The completed ballot must be received by 8PM on Election Day.
- Emergency ballot request starts 5 PM Friday before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends close of polls Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is 8PM Election Day
Contact your local election office
Montana early voting guide
Montana early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 30 days before the election
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
What to bring
You must show a non-expired Montana photo ID, a tribal ID, a military ID card, US Passport or a concealed carry permit. If you don't have a photo ID, you can still vote as long as you bring a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, notice of confirmation of voter registration, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Montana voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a non-expired Montana photo ID, a tribal ID, a military ID card, US Passport or a concealed carry permit. If you don't have a photo ID, you can still vote as long as you bring a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, notice of confirmation of voter registration, or any government document that shows your name and address.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements for online voter registration
Montana does not have OVR.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your Montana driver's license. If you do not have a driver's license, you must provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you can use one of these alternate forms of identification: a current and valid photo identification, including but not limited to a school district or postsecondary education photo identification or a tribal photo identification, with your name; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and current address. The alternative form of identification must be an original version presented to the election administrator.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Montana elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State’s Office P.O. Box 202801 State Capitol Helena, MT 59620‐2801