Library Guides: Elections 2024: Voter Registration & Voting Rights

Voter Registration in Montana

To be eligible to vote in Montana, you must:

Be a citizen of the United States
Be at least 18 years old
Be a Montana resident for at least 30 days before the election
Become a registered voter

Even if you meet the above eligibility qualifications, you cannot vote if:

You’re a convicted felon serving a sentence in a penal institution
You’ve been judged in a court of law to be of unsound mind

More information on Montana voter eligibility

Regular registration closes 30 days before an election. Regular registration may be done through the mail, when you are applying for or renewing your driver license or ID card, or through a voter registration outreach event.

Late registration is the 29-day period before an election. Eligible voters may register to vote or update their registration during the late registration period, until 12 pm the day before election day. In order to vote in the election, a voter must obtain their ballot in person. Find your local county election office.

Election Day registration: As a result of a March 2024 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court, voters may register in person until close of polls on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have a right to vote.

How to Register to Vote
Everything you need to know to register to vote in Montana.
-- Voter Register Application
-- Application for Absentee Ballot
-- Check Registration Status
-- Update Voter Registration Information
Military & Overseas Voters
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) electors are most commonly identified as one of the following:
-- Member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty
-- Spouse or dependent of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty.
-- U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S.
-- Other individuals meeting definitions of “absent uniformed services voter” and “overseas voter” in Montana law (13-21-102, MCA).
Voters with Disabilities
The Electronic Ballot Request System (EBRS) is an online system designed to allow Montana voters with disabilities to apply for an absentee ballot and access and mark their ballot electronically. As defined in Montana State Law, "disability" means a temporary or permanent physical impairment such as: (a) impaired vision, (b) impaired hearing, (c) impaired mobility, or (d) impaired mental or physical functioning that makes it difficult for the person to participate in the process of voting.

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: 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.

Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters starting October 11, 2024 for the General Election.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by your local election administrator’s office or polling place by 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Instructions for returning them will be included with the ballots when they are distributed.

"My Voting Information"
Verify your voter registration information, including your name and address.
Updating Your Voter Registration Information
Have you recently changed your name or address? Update your voter registration information.

ID Requirements for Voter Registration in Montana

ID Requirements when Registering
-- Montana Driver's License or Montana state ID card number
-- last four digits of social security number
-- a current photo ID that shows your name and an item showing current address (utility bill, bank statement, paycheck)

ID Requirements for In-Person Voting
An election judge will request your identification and verify that it is an acceptable form of identification:
-- Valid Driver's License
-- MT State Identification Card
-- Military ID
-- Tribal Photo ID
-- U.S. Passport
-- MT Concealed Carry Permit
-- School Photo ID

If the elector does not present photo identification, the elector can show name and current address with:
-- Utility Bill
-- Bank Statement
-- Paycheck or Government Check
-- Notice of Confirmation of Voter Registration
-- Government Document

Montana Driver License
If you have a valid out-of-state license and want to obtain a Montana Non-Commercial Driver License you must start the application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
Montana Identification Card
Are you a Montana Resident? You qualify for a Montana ID card. Montana ID cards require an in-person visit to an MVD Driver Exam Station.
VoteRiders
VoteRiders will help you get ID to vote, free of charge. VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote.

Voter Registration & Rights: Reliable Resources

Books & e-books
Websites

Reference Shelf: Voters' Rights by HW Wilson
Call Number: [Basement] JK1846.V68 2022
Publication Date: 2022
Articles on subjects ranging from convict disenfranchisement, voting and race, and the challenges of voting in urban versus rural areas. Special attention on the debate over voter fraud and voting security and how recent allegations of voter fraud have been used to justify new voter restrictions in many states. Other topics covered include voter ID requirements, voting and transportation for the elderly, and the debate over online voting.
One Person, One Vote: A Surprising History of Gerrymandering in America by Nick Seabrook
Call Number: [Basement] JK1341.S393 2022
Publication Date: 2022
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of election districts for partisan and political gain. Instead of voters picking the politicians they want, politicians pick the voters they need to get the election results they're after. Surprisingly, gerrymandering has been around since before our nation's founding. And with technology, those drawing the redistricting lines have, now more than ever, been able to microtarget their electoral manipulations with unprecedented levels of precision.

LexisNexis U.S. Voting Laws & Legislation Center
Free access to a comprehensive collection of US voting laws, legislative developments, and news.
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices
The office is charged to protect and ensure the integrity and transparency of campaigns, politics and government in Montana.
Montana Fair Elections Center
If you witness any suspicious activity that affects elections or ballot issue signature gathering anywhere in Montana, report it here.
The Right to Vote
How was the right to vote first established? How has it been expanded and protected? From the Library of Congress.