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Free public service for Montana votersNo candidate endorsementsGuide sources checked October 1, 2026General election November 3, 2026

Official voter resources

Make your Montana voting plan

Use Montana's official voter portal and election pages to check registration, find the county election office or polling place, request or track an absentee ballot, review identification rules, and confirm local voting arrangements.

First steps

Start with these three actions

Step 1

Register or check your voter record

Regular registration closes October 5. Forms postmarked by October 5 and received within three days are accepted. Late registration begins October 6 and, under the current court-order rule stated in the official calendar, remains available in person through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Step 2

Plan in-person absentee or Election Day voting

In-person absentee ballots become available October 5. Election Day polls generally run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A precinct with fewer than 400 registered voters may open later, but no later than noon, and must remain open until 8 p.m.

Step 3

Request and return an absentee ballot

Any registered Montana voter may vote absentee. A one-time application must be received by noon on November 2. The voted ballot must reach an election office or polling place by 8 p.m. on November 3.

October 5regular registration deadline
October 5in-person absentee begins
November 2 at noonabsentee application deadline
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.usual Election Day poll hours
Dated checklist

Election timeline

  1. Military and overseas ballot transmission deadline

    This is the latest date for election administrators to transmit ballots to covered military and overseas voters.

  2. Regular registration closes and in-person absentee voting begins

    Regular registration closes. A mailed registration form postmarked by this date and received within three days is accepted. In-person absentee ballots are available beginning this date.

  3. Late registration begins

    Late registration begins at the county-designated location. The voter must appear and obtain the ballot in person.

  4. Absentee ballots mailed

    Election administrators begin mailing ballots to registered voters on the absentee list.

  5. One-time absentee application deadline

    The election office must receive a one-time absentee application by noon. This is also the deadline stated in the official calendar for in-person pickup under the polling-place voter process.

  6. General Election Day, late registration cutoff, and ballot receipt deadline

    Polls close at 8 p.m. Under the current court-order rule in the official calendar, late registration remains available through 8 p.m. A voted absentee ballot must reach an election office or polling place by 8 p.m.

Check the current rule: Election workers request a physical, current, valid, readable photo ID from the categories listed by the state. The election calendar also lists certain current documents with the voter's name and current address as accepted identification. A voter without accepted identification may use the state's provisional process. Review the current official identification page or contact the county election office before voting.
On the ballot

3 statewide ballot issues

The official 2026 Voter Information Pamphlet presents three statewide measures for the November 3 ballot.

  • Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132)Would amend the Montana Constitution to require that judicial elections remain nonpartisan.
  • Constitutional Initiative No. 133 (CI-133)Would amend the Montana Constitution to protect initiative and referendum rights and establish requirements for impartial, predictable, open, and timely review, petition approval, legal challenges, signature gathering, signature withdrawal, and government resource use.
  • Initiative No. 194 (I-194)Would enact a law limiting powers of artificial persons and excluding specified political spending in candidate, political party, and state or local ballot issue elections, subject to the measure's exemptions and enforcement provisions.
View official ballot-measure information
Judicial retention

1 statewide judicial election and no statewide retention questions

All Montana voters will elect one Supreme Court Justice No. 4. The active printed candidates are Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson. This is a nonpartisan candidate election, not a retention question. District court contests are excluded because they are not decided statewide.

Review the official Montana candidate list
Official instructions

Use the Montana voter portal for your complete ballot

The statewide guide does not include U.S. House, Public Service Commission district, Legislature, district court, county, municipal, school, or local ballot contests. Use the official voter portal and county election office to confirm every item for your address.

Open the Montana voter portal
Official starting points

Official voter links

2026 Federal Election CalendarOfficial statewide registration, absentee, military and overseas, polling, and certification dates.Montana voter portalOfficial voter registration status, absentee status, and polling information.Voter registrationOfficial regular and late registration guidance.Absentee votingOfficial application, voting, and ballot return guidance.Voter identificationOfficial identification categories and provisional voting guidance.Polling and satellite locationsOfficial election location information and county contacts.2026 Voter Information PamphletOfficial summaries and text for all three statewide ballot issues.

Dates checked October 1, 2026. Confirm them at the linked official source.