HELENA, Mont. — More than half a million absentee ballots were sent to Montana voters this week as election officials prepare for the Nov. 3 general election. Officials say ballots should arrive in mailboxes in the coming days and urged voters to check their addresses and follow tracking tools if they expect to vote by mail.
What voters should expect and do
Election administrators across the state worked through the week to assemble and mail roughly 570,000 absentee ballots, a figure that represents more than two-thirds of the registered-voter roll from the primary season. County election offices say most residents in Montana prefer voting by mail, but in-person voting will remain available on Election Day at local polling places.
Lewis and Clark County Treasurer, Clerk and Recorder Amy Reeves said ballots mailed from her county should arrive next week and advised voters who do not receive a ballot by the end of that period to contact the county election office.
“They should get their ballot next week,” Reeves said. “If they don't get them by the end of next week, they should come into our office or at least contact our office and we can help them.”
Tools and reminders from the Secretary of State
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen reminded voters to verify their registration information and address ahead of casting a mail ballot. The Secretary of State's website provides an online tool to check registration status, find local polling locations, preview a sample ballot and track the status of an absentee ballot once it has been returned and processed.
Jacobsen also encouraged voters to review their sample ballot in advance so they understand the contests and questions they will see.
Practical guidance for absentee voters
- Watch your mailbox for your absentee ballot in the coming days.
- Confirm your current address with your county election office if you recently moved.
- Follow instructions on the ballot envelope to ensure the ballot will be accepted.
- Use the Secretary of State's online tracking tool to confirm a mailed ballot was received and accepted.
- Remember: you may also vote in person on Nov. 3 at your designated polling location.
Local election offices and volunteers spent weeks preparing and assembling ballots. In Lewis and Clark County, staffers and volunteers handled tens of thousands of ballots, an effort county officials described as both demanding and important to the election process.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Absentee ballots mailed statewide | ~570,000 |
| Registered voters in primary (for comparison) | ~791,000 |
| Absentee ballots mailed from Lewis and Clark County | ~32,700 |
Officials recommend voters mail their completed absentee ballots as soon as possible or deliver them to their local election office before Election Day to avoid delays. For more information or to track a ballot, visit the Secretary of State's website.
This story will be updated as local election offices provide additional guidance or if there are changes in mailing timelines.
