Common Questions About Voting

Common Questions About Voting

Below are the answers to some common questions about voting in Montana.  If you would like a flier with this information, you can download a printable flier here:

 

PDF icon lwvmt_voting_questions_brochure.pdf

I have a question about whether I can vote.

 I forgot to register.

Montana allows election-day registration and voting.  You can register to vote at your county election office on election day and cast your ballot. 

I don’t have a photo ID.

Montana accepts other forms of proof of identity, such as a paycheck stub, utility bill, government document or bank statement with your name and current address as a valid form of identification to register and to vote. 

I forgot my ID, so I can’t vote at the polls.

Voters who vote at the polls and forget their identification can vote a provisional ballot and go to the county courthouse the next day with proper identification. 

I am a college student from out-of-state.

Students who have lived in Montana for at least 30 days can choose to vote in Montana or in their home states.   Students can request absentee ballots be mailed to their home addresses if they are temporarily at home at the time of an election. 

I am a single parent with small children and no babysitter!

Parents are welcome to bring children to the Polling Place. Children can even accompany parents into the voting booth, and, usually, get an “I Voted” sticker!

I have mobility or other issues that keep me from voting.

Voters needing assistance have three ways to vote:

* Sight-impaired or disabled voters may use special machines available at polling places.

* Disabled voters unable to exit their vehicles can take advantage of curbside voting at polling places. Election officials will bring a ballot to the vehicle.

* Voters with disabilities or elderly voters may get permission to vote at an alternative, more accessible Polling Place.

I have my Green Card.  Can I vote?

State and federal law require anyone registering to vote to be a citizen of the United States.  Having a green card does not make you a citizen, so you cannot vote.  Anyone violating this law can be denied citizenship and deported. 

I don't have time go to the Elections Office and register to vote.

Montana allows people to register by mailing in a completed voter registration form,  as long as it is received by 30 days before the election.  The form can be printed from the Secretary of State's website:  https://sosmt.gov/elections/vote/

I can't make it to the polls on election day, so I can't vote. 

Montana allows voters to use an absentee mail-in ballot.  Go to the Montana Secretary of State's website and click on the "Application for Absentee Ballot" at:  https://sosmt.gov/elections/vote/

I am not sure if I want to vote.

I don’t want my social security number or driver’s license given to others.

State law prohibits revealing voter’s social security or driver’s license numbers to the public. 

I don’t want to reveal my party preference!

Montana never asks voters to register their party preferences! 

I’m afraid if I register to vote, I will be called for jury duty.

While voter roll data are used by the court system for jury duty, the courts also use driver’s license and state ID card data as well.  People may still be summoned for jury duty, even if they do not register to vote.

I need more information about voting.

I can’t remember if I registered or not.

You can go to the link below and check to see if Montana’s records show you as being registered.  The same site will also show you where your polling place is, or whether you are registered to receive an absentee ballot.  Go to the My Voter Page:  https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

I need more infomration about the candidates and issues.

You can go to the League's website VOTE411 to find information about candidates running in Montana, as well as infomration about election dates and a link to the Montana Secretary of State's website for further information.  

I think I got an absentee ballot, but I don’t remember if I already sent it in?

For the 25 days preceding a federal election, you can go to the Secretary of State website and track where your ballot is.   Go to:  https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

 I saw a site that claimed you can vote on-line.

Because of security concerns and the need for a paper trail that backs up vote tallies, online or email voting is not allowed in Montana.  However, voter registration and absentee ballot request forms are easily obtained online.   Go to:  sosmt.gov/elections/vote