How to Vote in Montana’s 2022 Elections

En español | Montana’s Nov. 8 general election will decide races for the U.S. House, Montana State Legislature, Montana Public Service Commission and various courts. The state's primary election was held June 7. See election results.

• Absentee voting: Any registered voter can apply to automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail, no excuses necessary.

• Early in-person voting: This can be done by visiting your county elections office to fill out a paper ballot between Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Monday, Nov. 1.

• In-person voting on Election Day: The state’s primary election is Tuesday, June 7, and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are generally open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with some exceptions.

Montana gained one seat in the U.S. House, as determined by population growth in the 2020 census. The new congressional redistricting plan may affect certain boundaries of your district and which candidates appear on your ballot.

• U.S. House: 2 seats
  
  • District 1: Monica Tranel (D), Ryan Zinke (R), John Lamb (L)
  • District 2: incumbent Matt Rosendale (R), Penny Ronning (D), Sam Rankin (L), Gary Buchanan (I)
• State Senate: 27 out of 50 seats
• State House: all 100 seats

• By mail: Download a voter registration application from the secretary of state’s website, or request a mailed copy by calling your county election administrator's office or the secretary of state’s toll-free voter hotline at 888-884-8683. Once completed, mail the form and related documents to your county election administrator's office.

• In person:  Visit your county election administrator's office to drop off or fill out a registration form. Offices generally are open Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., except for holidays. Hours may be extended during the election season. Call your county election administrator's office if you have questions about when the office is open. You can also register to vote when you apply for or renew your driver’s license or state-issued ID card at a Motor Vehicle Division office.

The regular voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11. Registration forms postmarked by this date and received by Friday, Oct. 14, are acceptable. Postage is required.

You also can register late in person by visiting your county election administrator's office by noon on Monday, Nov. 7, the day before the election.

Check your voter registration status and update your information on the secretary of state’s My Voter Page.

All registered Montana voters can request an absentee ballot, and you can opt to automatically receive absentee ballots by mail in the future.

You can request an absentee ballot by mail, by phone or in person:

• By mail: Print out a copy of the application for an absentee ballot and mail it to your county election administrator's office, or request a mailed copy of the application by calling your county election administrator's office or the secretary of state’s toll-free voter hotline at 888-884-8683. Once completed, mail the form to your county election administrator's office.  Addresses are listed on the application. Note that postage is required.

• In person:  Visit your county election administrator's office to drop off or fill out an application form. Offices generally are open Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., except for holidays. Hours may be extended during the election season. Call your county election administrator's office if you have questions about when the office is open.

Applications must be received by county election officials by noon on Monday, Nov. 7. If you drop off your application, you should be able to pick up your absentee ballot at the same time.

Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters starting on Friday, Oct. 14.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by your local election administrator’s office or polling place by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. Instructions for returning them will be included with the ballots when they are distributed.

Yes. You can track your absentee ballot at My Voter Page.

Yes. You can cast an absentee ballot in person starting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and running through Monday, Nov. 7. Visit your county election administrator's office during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) to apply for an absentee ballot and cast it in person. Other county-designated locations may be open for early voting, too, and will be listed on the secretary of state’s website once they are available.

The state’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Most polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but hours vary and some smaller counties may not open polls until noon. Visit the Montana Secretary of State's My Voter Page to find your polling place and hours.

To register to vote, you must provide only one of the following forms of ID:

• A Montana driver’s license number or Montana state ID card number
• The last four digits of your Social Security number
• An original version, if in person, or a clear copy, if by mail, of one of the following:
  
  • Military ID card
  • Tribal photo ID card
  • United States passport
  • Montana concealed carry permit

OR

• A photo ID with your name and a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that includes your name and current address

If you vote in person, you'll need to present one of the following forms of photo identification:

• Montana driver's license
• Montana state ID card
• Military ID card
• Tribal ID card
• United States passport
• Montana concealed carry permit

OR

• A photo ID with your name and and a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that includes your name and current address

AARP Montana explains how to register and vote in Big Sky Country.

How to Register to Vote in Montana -- 2022 General Election

How to Vote by Mail in Montana -- 2022 General Election

How to Vote In-Person in Montana -- 2022 General Election

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on July 29, 2022, with information about the general election. The guide was first published on Aug. 7, 2020.

 

• Follow AARP’s political coverage at aarp.org/elections
• Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at aarp.org/mt
• Text MTVOTES to 22777 to receive a one-time text message with a link to Montana voter information. Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: https://aarp.info/tcady