Montana Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-in Deadlines

Voter Registration

You can register to vote in Montana if you:

• will be 18 years old or older on or before the next election.
• are a citizen of the United States.
• have lived in Montana and in the county in which you intend to vote for at least 30 days except where otherwise provided by law.
• are not a convicted felon serving a sentence in a penal institution.
• have not been judged in a court of law to be of unsound mind.

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form. 
• You can also use Montana's voter registration form.  Sign the completed form and mail it to your County Election Administrator. The addresses are on the form.  

ID requirements for first-time voters:

You need to include your Montana driver's license number (or your non-drivers ID card number) on your voter registration form.  If you don't have either of these numbers, you need to include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you forget, you'll need to show ID when you vote for the first time in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a copy of a photo ID that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and Montana address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Ballots

Good news!  Any registered Montana voter can vote by absentee ballot.

How to apply for your absentee ballot:

Your absentee ballot application will be rejected if you apply any sooner than 75 days before an election.  Your application will also be rejected if you apply after the deadline. 

You can request your absentee ballot by downloading and completing the Montana Absentee Ballot Application.  If you want the absentee ballot mailed to you, be sure to include your mailing address in the space provided. 

Mail, fax, or hand-deliver your completed absentee ballot application to your County Election Administrator.  The addresses are listed on the form.  Once they process it, they'll mail your absentee ballot to you.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You don't need to provide ID if you've already voted in Montana at least once.  If you are a first-time Montana voter, and you did not meet the ID requirements when you registered to vote, you must include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable ID includes a photo ID that shows your name, OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and Montana address.

Emergency absentee ballots:

If you request an absentee ballot because of a sudden illness or health emergency occurring between 5 p.m. of the Friday preceding the election and noon on election day, you may ask your County Election Administrator to have a special absentee election board bring an absentee ballot to you.

Permanent absentee voter status:

Montana is one of the few states in the nation that offers permanent absentee status to voters.  Use the Montana Absentee Ballot Application to add yourself to the Permanent Absentee List.  You can choose to have ballots sent to you for every subsequent election (including municipal, state and federal) or just for federal elections.  You will need to respond to certain confirmation mailings to remain on the list.  Permanent absentee status is a great way to make sure you never miss another election.

Absentee ballot instructions:

Fill out your absentee ballot, sign where indicated, put a stamp on the envelope, and then mail your ballot back to the address listed on the return envelope.  You may be asked to include your Motor Vehicle Division number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to meet the deadline or your ballot won't be counted!

Additional Information