Montana Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Montana Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Montana voting rules and options. It focuses on Montana-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Montana voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Montana voting tools. It's an all-in-one Montana voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices
- on election day at your polling place (Election Day Registration)
You must have resided in Montana at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote. Regular registration closes 30 days before the election; however, you can still register and vote in the election by late registration at your county election office or designated location until noon the day prior to the election.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
A registered voter may receive and vote by absentee in person at a county election office as soon as absentee ballots are available. Contact your election office to inquire about hours of operation.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Montana if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of Montana
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
If you have lived in Montana for 30 days, you are eligible to vote in Federal Election. You need not have lived within the same precinct (or even the same county) for 30 days prior to the election. You can vote one last time under the old address, or register and vote under the new address (applicable to regular and late registration deadlines and procedures).
You are NOT eligible to vote in Montana if:
- You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
- A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Montana if:
- You reside in Montana but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Montana
- Montana does not accept student ID; refer to Montana Identification Requirements section
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Montana you should provide one of the following:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your Montana Driver's License Number
- Montana ID Card
- Valid Military ID
- Valid Tribal ID
- U.S. Passport
- Concealed Carry Permit
If you do not have any of these IDs, you must provide a copy of a valid photo ID together with one of the following with your registration application:
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Utility Bill
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
Voting In-Person
If you are registered to vote in Montana, you are required to show ID to vote. Accepted forms of ID include:
- Valid Montana Driver's License
- Montana ID Card
- Valid Military ID
- Valid Tribal ID
- Valid US Passport
- Concealed Carry Permit
If you do not have an ID from the above list, bring a valid photo ID together with at least one of the following additional documents:
- Current Utility Bill
- Paycheck that Shows your Name and Address
- A Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
- Bank Statement
- Government Check
- Voter notification or confirmation card
If you cannot produce any of these requested ID documents, contact your County Election Office about provisional voting.
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |