Comprehensive voting and election information for Montana's 2020 general election 

Election Results: Please be Patient

The last ballots were cast on November 3. Now the lengthy process of counting the ballots, auditing the count, allowing for recounts if necessary, and finally certifying the results of the election lie before us. The key word for all of us is patience.  The Montana Secretary of State will certify and post final results of Montana's election some time in late November, early December.  First, election officials have to complete post-election procedures.  Election results will be posted here:  https://sosmt.gov/elections/

 Provisional Ballots

Montana law requires that local election officials wait 6 days after Election Day to count overseas and provisional ballots.  Voters using provisional ballots must submit in person or mail postmarked by 5:00pm the day after the election all information needed to resolve their provisional status.  Waiting 6 days gives election officials time to check the records of voters of provisional ballots to ensure that each ballot is valid before counted. This also allows extra time for overseas ballots to arrive.  Once these ballots have been certified and counted, counties send preliminary results of the election to the Montana Secretary of State. 

  Certifying the Vote

 Montana also requires a manual ballot audit of federal election results for every county that used automated ballot tabulating machines. The Montana Board of Canvassers randomly selects precincts and then randomly selects races in those precincts to be hand-counted by three election judges.  Only if their totals and the one tabulated by the machine are within ½ of 1% or 5 ballots, whichever is greater, of each other is the election deemed official. 

 Recounts

This is not the end of the story.  Montana law provides for recounts of close elections.  A tie vote requires an immediate recount. If the margin of difference between the candidates is ¼ of 1% of the votes cast or less, the losing candidate can request a recount that is for paid by the government.  If the margin between the candidates is between ¼ and ½ of 1% of the votes cast, the losing candidate can post a bond to cover the costs and then request a recount.  It is possible for a recount of a ballot issue if the margin is ¼ of 1% of the total votes cast or less. 

 All of these processes have been in place for many years, and always take time.  It will likely be November 30 or later before the Montana Secretary of State declares the official results of Montana’s election. Montana is not alone in requiring specific procedures for tabulating and auditing election results before declaring those results official.  Most states have similar procedures that must be followed to ensure ballots are certified and tabulated correctly. 

 This year in particular, many states will be processing mail ballots after the election and it will take time for these processes to be completed.  While we have in the past had election results the day following the election, this year results may not be known for some time.  However long it takes, our patience in expecting results supports our election officials as they follow procedures to protect the integrity of our elections.  Democracy is worth waiting for.  We need to count every ballot.   

Thank you for your Persistence

 This year Montana voters faced unprecedented hurdles registering to vote and submitting their ballots. The pandemic required social distancing and public health safety precautions that included closed polling places, a mail ballot election, fewer voter registration events and get-out-the- vote efforts.  And then it snowed. It takes persistence to participate in elections, especially in difficult times. We want to thank all the people who helped.

 County Election Officials and Volunteers 

Elections in Montana would not be possible without the many citizen volunteers who serve as election judges.  This year in particular, polling places and drop boxes needed more volunteers to comply with Covid 19 safety precautions.  Thank you to all who helped make this election a record-breaking turnout for Montana! 

  Voters 

 For some voters, 2020 was their first-time voting. It takes courage to vote for the first time. It takes commitment to community to register and vote. And it took persistence to vote this year. We thank everyone who voted this year, with special thanks to new voters, inactive voters who had to re-register or update their voter registration, and those who were formerly incarcerated who exercised their right to vote.  The election process is stronger because of your persistence.