Check out the info below to learn more about the candidates and ballot initiatives that you’ll see on your ballot!
Voter Registration Deadlines
- October 9th: Absentee Ballots Are Mailed Out. If you are registered absentee and do not receive your ballot by October 16, check in with your local county elections office. When filling out your ballot, don’t forget to sign, date, and put it in the secrecy envelope. As a reminder, due to a change in law, you will need to put your birth year on the back of your ballot envelope under your signature!
- November 2nd: temporary close of late registration, noon to 5 p.m. (no registrations will be processed during this time). You can still register and vote in person through 8pm on Election Day, November 3 at your local county elections office.
- November 3rd: Election Day! At 8 p.m. all ballots must be received by your county elections office. Vote in person, turn in your ballot to your local county elections office, drop it off at a drop box, or mail your ballot by October 27th, (i.e., 8 days before the election) to ensure it is received on time.
To check your voter registration or find your polling location, visit the My Voter Page. You can also check this page to verify if your ballot has been accepted or denied by the county elections office.
For a list of county election offices, visit our online voter guide by scanning the QR code at forwardmontana.org/voterhub/.
What do I need to bring with me to vote in-person?
If you’re voting in person at your county’s elections office or at your polling location on Election Day, you’ll need to bring a current, valid form of identification that verifies that you are a qualified elector. Appropriate forms of identification include:
- Montana driver’s license or Montana ID Card
- United States passport
- Tribal photo ID card
- Military photo ID card
- Concealed carry permit
- Montana University System/NAIA Photo ID
If you don’t have any of the above forms of ID, you can bring an alternative form of photo ID that includes your name and picture (i.e. student ID) plus a recent document that includes your name and current address (i.e. a recent pay stub, utility bill, bank statement, or other government document addressed to you).
How to Vote by Mail
1. In addition to your official ballot and envelopes, your county will include important information and instructions. Make sure to read this information carefully. To vote, you will need the three items listed below. After you identify each of these items, put them in a safe place until you’re ready to vote.
- Official Ballot – This is the document listing offices and candidate names.
- Ballot Secrecy Envelope – This envelope is clearly marked. You can’t miss it!
- Return Envelope – This envelope has the address of your county elections office on the front and a barcode and signature line on the back
2. After you have reviewed your ballot, fold it and place it in the secrecy envelope. Include ONLY your completed ballot. You do not need to return any instructional or informational materials you received.
Once you have confirmed that you selected the correct envelope, seal your ballot inside.
3. Your return envelope is pre-addressed to your county elections office and includes a barcode on the back. Put your sealed secrecy envelope inside the return envelope.
4. Locate the signature line on the return envelope. It’s marked with an X. You’ll also find a space to write the date. Before you move on, make note of two important things.
- Make sure to sign and date ONLY in the indicated spaces.
- Sign your envelope carefully. This one is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. The signature on your return envelope MUST match the signature the elections office has on file from your voter registration or absentee ballot form. If the signatures do not match, your ballot will be rejected.
- Note that, as of 2025, you are now required to print your year of birth on the outside of your envelope.
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