You are eligible to vote if you are:

• a U.S. citizen

• at least 18 years old on Election Day

• living in Montana for 30 days before the election*

• not currently incarcerated for a felony

 

*Note to students: The state has different residency rules than the universities. You only need to be living here 30 days before the election in order to register & vote. You may only register & vote at one location, either your address at school or your address at home. 

​

Voter Registration Deadlines for 2026 Elections

Registering In-Person

You can register to vote in-person at your County Elections office through Election Day. This means that as long as you're physically in line to register to vote by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, June 2nd, for Primary Elections or 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3rd for General Elections, you will be allowed to register and vote.​​

​

​Primary Mail Voter Registration Deadline: Postmarked by May 4, 2026 and received within 3 days

General ​Mail Voter Registration Deadline: Postmarked by October 5th, 2026 and received within 3 days

 

Primary In-person Registration Deadline: June 2nd, 2026 at 8:00 pm

General In-person Registration Deadline: November 3rd, 2026 at 8:00 pm

​

In-Person Voter Registration

When registering to vote in-person, you will be asked to complete the Montana Voter Registration Application. See what the form looks like here. 

 

Blank registration forms will be provided at your in-person voter registration location. You may also print out the form yourself, fill it out at home, and drop it off at your in-person registration location.

 

If you are registering to vote in-person within 25 days of an election, you will likely be issued an absentee ballot at the same time as you complete your in-person voter registration. You may vote your ballot on the spot or take it home to fill out later.

​

Identification

Be prepared to provide proof of your identity when you register to vote. Legal forms of identification include: 

• Valid Montana Driver’s License

• Montana State Identification Card

• Military ID

• Tribal ID

• U.S. Passport

• Montana Concealed Carry Permit

• Student Photo Identification Card Issued by the Montana University System or a school that is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

​

If a voter doesn’t have any of these forms of ID, it is possible to use any photo ID showing the voter’s name; AND a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address.