Office of Elections - Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on the arrows (>) below to close or expand the 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 .

School/Special District Election:

When is the School and Special District Election?

The school and special district election will be held Tuesday, May 6. This will be an all-mail election and polling places will not be open. It is possible that not all residents will receive a ballot or be eligible to vote in this election. This will depend on where a voter lives and whether there will be elections in their specific jurisdictions.

Stay informed about this election on our Current Election page.

The Elections Office administers school and special district elections annually. School district trustees are elected for a term of three years or the remainder of vacant terms. The board of trustees authorizes additional taxation, the issuance of bonds or any other proposition presented to voters in accordance with the law. Note, some school districts cross county boundaries.

Special district trustees are elected board members who serve residents of a specific tax district, such as fire, public hospital, water, sewer, irrigation or conservation districts listed on a property owner’s tax bill. These districts operate in accordance with state laws.

Other ballot initiatives include various elementary and high school district general fund levies to support instruction and operation of the schools; and the safety and security building reserve fund levy for the purpose of supporting and improving school and student safety through school security systems and technology maintenance and upgrades. These levies will vary on ballots depending on what school and/or special district a voter lives in.

Where can I find information about candidates?

There are multiple resources that provide information about candidates; a few are listed below.

Online Election Websites
Local News Outlets
Campaign Websites
Political Party Websites
- A contact list is available on the Montana Secretary of State’s Office website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/parties/

WHAT CANDIDATE INFORMATION DO YOU GET FROM ELECTION OFFICES?

Elections offices are nonpartisan and will provide candidate contact information.

Montana Secretary of State Office
- https://sosmt.gov/
- 406-444-2034
Missoula County Elections Office
- www.missoulavotes.com
- 406-258-4751
- County candidate filing information is available at https://missoula.co/candidatefiling or by calling our office.
A voter guide on statewide ballot issues will be distributed in the fall for the Nov. 5 general election.

How can I check my voter registration status?

How do I register to vote?

What can I use as ID to vote?

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.

The May 6, 2025School/Special District Election is an all-mail election and polling places will not be open. It is possible that not all residents will receive a ballot or be eligible to vote in this election. This will depend on where a voter lives and whether there will be elections in their specific jurisdictions.

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 Office - Building B 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?

When are municipal primary and general elections held?

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

Regular registration, during which a voter does not have to register in person, closes 29 days before any election. Late registration begins the next day and ends at noon the day before Election Day. During the late registration period, voters must register to vote or make any changes, such as updating their address, in person at the Elections Offices, 140 N Russell St. or at one of our Voter Services Events.

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

Yes. You can register to vote on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Missoula County Elections Office - Building B, 140 N. Russell St. in Missoula. All voters in line at 8 p.m. will be eligible to vote.

You cannot register to vote at a polling place.

The school and special district election will be held Tuesday, May 6. This will be an all-mail election and polling places will not be open. It is possible that not all residents will receive a ballot or be eligible to vote in this election. This will depend on where a voter lives and whether there will be elections in their specific jurisdictions.

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.