Voting in Montana

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2026 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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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 for election agencies.

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[edit]

Eligibility and registration details[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Montana, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a non-temporary resident of Montana for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election.^[1] 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.^[2]

An individual 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. Applicants may also register to vote at their county election offices, certain designated locations, or at their designated polling location on Election Day.^[2]^[3]

In-person voting[edit]

Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Montana, polling place must be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., although in areas with fewer than 400 registered voters, polling places may open as late as 12:00 p.m.^[4]

Voter identification[edit]

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Montana requires voters to present identification while voting.

The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of October 2025. Click here for the most current information from the Montana Secretary of State.

“

(i) 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, or student photo identification card issued by the Montana university system or a school that is a member of the national association of intercollegiate athletics; 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.^[5]

”

Early voting[edit]

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.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Montana. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.^[6]

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.^[6]

Local election officials[edit]

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[edit]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

Contact information[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration 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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External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

↑ Montana law says an individual does not gain residency if they relocate for "temporary work, training, or an educational program, without the intention of making that county or the state the individual's permanent home at the conclusion of the temporary work, training, or educational program." See HB 413 from 2025 for more information.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Montana Voter Registration Application,” accessed June 10, 2025
↑ Montana Motor Vehicle Division, “Additional Considerations when Getting Your License or ID,” accessed June 10, 2025
↑ Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-1-106. Time of opening and closing of polls for all elections -- exceptions," accessed June 10, 2025
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Voting by Absentee Ballot,” accessed June 10, 2025
↑ Montana Code Annotated 2023, "13-1-111. Qualifications of voter," accessed June 10, 2025
↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons," accessed June 10, 2025

[1] Montana law says an individual does not gain residency if they relocate for "temporary work, training, or an educational program, without the intention of making that county or the state the individual's permanent home at the conclusion of the temporary work, training, or educational program." See HB 413 from 2025 for more information.

[MTSOS-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Montana Voter Registration Application,” accessed June 10, 2025

[3] Montana Motor Vehicle Division, “Additional Considerations when Getting Your License or ID,” accessed June 10, 2025

[4] Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-1-106. Time of opening and closing of polls for all elections -- exceptions," accessed June 10, 2025

[quotedisclaimer-5] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[mtabsentee-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Voting by Absentee Ballot,” accessed June 10, 2025

[7] Montana Code Annotated 2023, "13-1-111. Qualifications of voter," accessed June 10, 2025

[8] National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons," accessed June 10, 2025

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