Haven’t voted in Montana’s primary election yet? Here’s how

The Montana Secretary of State’s website shows that voters in the state have already returned 188,595 ballots in the primary election as of Monday morning. 

In 2022 and 2024, the primary election turned out roughly 39% and 41% of registered voters, and the Secretary of State’s Office shows just more than 665,000 registered voters as of Monday — meaning tens of thousands of Montanans are still expected to cast their ballots before 8 p.m. when the polls close on Tuesday. 

If you didn’t put your absentee ballot in the mail in time, or are waiting to show up in person to vote, here’s what you need to know. 

The basics can be found online, at the Secretary of State’s “My Voter” portal. 

Enter your name and birthdate and learn:

• if your voter registration is up to date, 
• where your polling location is, 
• which legislative districts you reside in and are eligible to vote for, 
• and the status of your ballot.

If you already mailed in your ballot:

Check that it has been received and whether it has been flagged for any issues. If you forgot a key part of the process — such as signing the envelope and including your birth year — you can correct those at your county election office or online. 

The same is true if you accidentally included more than one primary ballot in the envelope — only one ballot can be submitted, and election officials will flag ineligible ballots and reach out to voters to correct them. 

Rejected ballots can be resolved online by filling out a form here and returning it to your county election office. 

If you filled out your absentee ballot but didn’t mail yet:

Don’t put it in the mailbox. Ballots must be received by the end of election day, not postmarked by election day. 

That means dropping them off in person at your county elections office, at any polling location on election day, or at other locations specified by your local elections office. 

Make sure your ballot envelope is signed, and your birth date is written in the designated area. 

Some counties are offering drive-thru ballot drop off locations so voters can avoid lines and traffic at polling locations on election day. 

In Missoula County, those locations are at: McCormick Park, 600 Cregg Lane 

Baseball fields at Hellgate Elementary, 2835 Flynn Lane 

South Russell Street between the Fairgrounds and the YMCA

In Flathead County drive-thru locations are located at the county election office, located 290 North Main Street, Kalispell, or at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell. 

Check your county’s election page for additional information about polling locations and ballot drop off spots. 

If you need to register to vote, or change your registration:

Montana law states that as long as you are in line at your polling place by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, you can still register to vote and cast your ballot. 

While the state Legislature passed a bill limiting same-day voter registration to noon in an attempt to eliminate long lines late in the day, a Lewis and Clark District Court judge blocked the law from going into effect. 

If you are voting in person:

Bring identification with you.

An amended law requires voters to provide “current, valid and readable,” identification at their polling place, which includes tribal photo ID cards, military IDs, U.S. Passports, drivers’ licenses, Montana State ID cards, Montana concealed carry permits, and student ID cards.

If you do not have an approved ID, a utility bill, bank statement paycheck, or government document showing your place of residence is required. 

Check the state’s voter ID guide here. 

What is on your ballot?

Because Montana is an open primary state, there is a ballot for each political party — Democratic, Libertarian and Republican — but only ONE ballot can be filled out and submitted. 

Primary elections are taking place for a U.S. Senate seat; both U.S. House districts; two seats on the Public Service Commission; and more than 100 legislative seats. Some voters will also be selecting county commissioners, sheriffs, and other local officials in their primaries. 

More questions?

Visit votemt.gov for the Secretary of State’s answers to additional questions.