Registering to Vote in the State of Montana
by Charlotte Mills
Are you registered to vote? Do you want to be but don’t know how? Some people don’t register to vote because they think they won’t be called for jury duty. However, if you have a Montana driver’s license, you may still be called for jury duty whether you are registered to vote or not.
Often times, people say, “Why should I vote? I can’t make a difference.” Well, in our recent Primary Election, one of our local county office races ended in a tie on Election Night. Six days later we counted our provisional ballots, and the winning candidate won by six votes.
Voting is important, so do not give up your right to vote. Make sure your voter record is up-to-date.
If you would like to check the status of your voter record, go to www.votinginmontana.com. This is a website provided by the Montana Association of Clerks & Recorders/Election Administrators and has an easy link to the Montana Secretary of State service called “My Voter Page.” You can check your information by entering your first and last name and your date of birth. It will show the address where you are currently registered to vote, whether you are an active or inactive voter, whether you signed up for an absentee ballot, and your polling place location. Of course, you can always drop by the county election office – located at 311 W. Main, Room 210 in Bozeman – or you may call (406) 582-3060.
Registering to vote or updating your current registration is simple. You may apply by mail or in person, by completing and signing an application form for voter registration. You may not register or update your registration online. You will need to include your driver’s license or your social security number on the application. Montana law states that a Montana driver’s license number shall be provided, or if you do not have a Montana driver’s license, the last four digits of their social security number shall be provided. Only if you have neither a Montana driver’s license nor a social security number, may you use one of the alternative forms of identification as defined in the law, M.C.A §13-2-110.
The next Federal General Election is November 6th, 2018. Generally, the close of registration is thirty days before Election Day. This year, because of Columbus Day, close of registration is on October 9th, 2018. The day after the close of registration, the Late Registration process begins which allows a new voter in the county to register or a voter who has moved within the county to update their current registration. You must personally come to the Election Office in these cases.
The Late Registration period for the upcoming General Election starts on October 10th. It continues through noon on November 5th and resumes again on Election Day, starting at 7am and continuing through until 8pm. During the Late Registration process, when you come into the election office, you will be handed a ballot that you may vote right then and drop it in the office ballot box or you may take it with you to vote. However, it must be returned to the Election Office by 8pm on Election Day.
When checking “My Voter Page,” it will show whether you have signed up to receive an absentee ballot. That ballot will be mailed to you on the 25th day before the election. For the November Election, absentee ballots will be mailed on October 12th and must be received in the county election office or dropped off at any polling location by 8pm on November 6th. If you mail your absentee ballot, please mail it the week prior to the election to ensure it is received in time to be counted.
Sometimes we hear voters say, “I didn’t sign up for an absentee ballot, but I received a sample ballot in the mail.” NO, we do not send sample ballots. That is your ballot, the ballot you vote. On Election Day, you may drop your voted absentee ballot off at the drive-by tent on Main Street in front of the Courthouse or you may drop it off at any polling place within Gallatin County. And please, remember to SIGN the affidavit on the back of the envelope so that your ballot can be counted.
Charlotte Mills is the Clerk & Recorder/Election Administrator of Gallatin County, an office she’s held since January 2007. •
