Register to Vote!
Election Day is November 5, 2024
Key Dates for the General Election
- October 7 – Regular voter registration closes at 5 p.m.
- October 8 – Late voter registration opens at 8 a.m. (Forms must be delivered in person to elections offices.)
- October 11 – Absentee ballots mailed
- November 4 – Late voter registration ends at noon.
- November 5 – Election Day. Vote in person at the polls or drop off ballots at the county elections office, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voter Registration
Regular voter registration closes 30 days before the election. However, you can submit a late voter registration application in person at the county election office or a designated location until noon on the day before the election.
To register, you will need to fill out the voter registration application. That includes providing:
- ID numbers from an acceptable form of identification.
- Your address in the county where you are registering to vote.
For more information about voting, call your local election office or call the Montana Secretary of State’s toll-free voter help line: 1-406-444-9608.
Absentee ballots
According to the Montana Secretary of State, any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. Ballots for federal/state elections are mailed to eligible voters 25 days before Election Day.
Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the county election office by noon on the day before Election Day. They can be mailed or dropped off in person. If you drop it off in person, you'll be able to pickup your absentee ballot at the same time, if ballots are available at that time.
Absentee ballots must be returned following the instructions included with them and must be received at the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
For more information about voting, call your local election office or call the Montana Secretary of State’s toll-free voter help line: 1-406-444-9608.
Where Do I Vote?
College students from another state may choose to become a resident of Montana if they have resided in the state for at least 30 days and vote in the county where they are going to school or they may register and vote in their home state. You must choose one or the other. You cannot vote in both.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am a non-resident student can I register to vote in Montana?
Yes! The 30-day residency requirement for registering to vote in Montana refers to living in the state of Montana for 30 days, so if you have been on campus for 30 days prior to the election you meet that requirement.
Do I have to give up my registration at my previous resident to register to vote on campus?
Yes, you can only be registered to vote in one location and should try and confirm you are taken off the voter roles if you reregister and were previously registered in a different jurisdiction.
Voting Tips and Useful Links
Request absentee ballots early
If you will not cast a ballot in Gallatin County, you must request an absentee ballot either from your Montana county's election office or from the election office in your home county in whatever state you hail from. Don't delay!
Register to vote in another state
If you will vote in another state’s election, you can register through vote.gov.
Mail in your ballots early
If you mail in your ballot, whether for Gallatin County, another county in Montana, or to another state, be sure to send it early to ensure it will arrive on time.