Office of Elections - Frequently Asked Questions

Please use the list below to find answers to the most commonly asked questions our office receives. If your question is not answered here, call our office at 406-258-4751 or email electioninfo@missoulacounty.us .

Make a Plan to Vote:

How can I find my voting place?

What can I use as ID to vote?

All voters are required to show one form of identification at the polls on Election Day. Acceptable forms of identification are:

Montana Driver’s License or any form of photo ID with the voter’s name, including but not limited to:

state-issued ID, federal-issued ID, tribal ID, student ID or military ID.

If a voter does not have a photo ID, the voter may provide a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or any government-issued document with the voter’s name and current address.

Can someone vote without any form of identification?

Yes. Montana law, in combination with the Help America Vote Act, provides alternative channels for a person without the required forms of identification to cast their vote. Here is how it works:

You can vote a provisional ballot and provide one of the items listed above the day after the election. Your provisional ballot will be counted if you provide one of the items on the list to the County Elections Office by 5 p.m. the day after the election. You can also mail it to the County Election Office postmarked by the day after the election.

What if I make a mistake on my ballot?

Voting by Mail/Absentee Voting

How does absentee voting work?

Absentee voting is when voters receive their ballots by mail. Individuals must complete the Application for Absentee Ballot to receive their voting packet via mail. Montana law allows any registered voter the ability to request an absentee ballot.

Absentee voting is sometimes referred to as "voting by mail" since it allows the individual to cast their ballot from home.

Visit our Absentee Ballot page for more information.

How can I get an absentee ballot?

You can request an application for an absentee ballot by mail, phone or in person. You can mail the completed application to Elections Office or deliver it in person at 140 N. Russell St., Missoula, MT, 59801.

After the close of regular registration 30 days prior to a federal election, you must make changes to your voter registration in person at the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St., however, current registered voters may submit a request to be mailed an absentee ballot by submitting an Absentee Request in person, via mail, or electronically. Please make sure that there is adequate time for your ballot to be sent and returned. (see below)

Visit our Absentee Ballot page for more information.

What should I do if I’m not sure my absentee ballot will get to me in time or that my voted ballot will reach the Elections Office in time?

The Missoula County Elections Office provides a ballot tracking system that shows the mailed date, received date and processing status for each voter's ballot. If you think your ballot might not be received by mail on Election Day, you can also drop it off at the Missoula County Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St. or at any designated polling place or ballot drop-off location. The post office recommends mailing a ballot at least seven days prior to election day. If there is less than a week before election day, make sure to drop off your ballot in-person.

Dates and Deadlines

When are federal primary and general elections held?

A federal primary election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. A federal general election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Presidential elections are combined with the congressional, statewide, state district and county elections.

2024 federal primary election: Tuesday, June 4
2024 federal general election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

When are municipal primary and general elections held?

What are the deadlines to register to vote or make changes to my registration?

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

Voter Registration

I moved within the last year. Do I need to re-register?

I recently changed my name. Do I need to re-register?

I updated my voter registration at the driver's license center. Do I still need to register to vote?

Voter registration information that the driver's license center collects can take while to reach the Elections Office. It is best to wait for that time period and then visit the My Voter Page to verify if the driver's license center submitted the most recent information. If it is within a few days of the election My Voter Page does not reflect your new information, please visit our Voter Registration page to learn how to register through our office.