Missoula Votes

Missoula County Elections wants to make it easy for you to cast your vote. Drop off your ballot at one of our convenient drive-thru locations!

Skip the lines and congestion at the Elections Center by dropping off your ballot at one of our convenient drive thru drop locations:

• McCormick Park, 600 Cregg Lane

• South Russell Street, between the Fairgrounds and YMCA

Meet Robyn and Kathy. They are transporting absentee ballots to the Elections Office counting center.

When a ballot first arrives to the Elections Center, it is tracked by the way it was received, whether that be mail, in-person or at a drop-off location. A ballot style is the unique combination of contests and candidates that will appear on a voter's ballot, depending on what jurisdictions they live in within the county.

Learn more about how the Elections Office makes sure every ballot is counted by visiting missoula.co/electionintegrity

The drive thru ballot drop at the Missoula County Fairgrounds at 1101 South Ave W. is open now until 8 p.m.! Voters should use the entrance on Russell Street next to the YMCA to access the drop off which is located in the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds.

A drive thru ballot drop is also available at McCormick Park (600 Cregg Lane).

Please note that due to increased traffic, there is no drive thru ballot drop off services at the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell Street.

It's Election Day!

Where do I go today? Follow the matrix below to determine what you need to do on Election Day:

I need to…

• Drop off my absentee ballot: Drive thru ballot drop is available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at McCormick Park (600 Cregg Lane) or on Russell St. (between the YMCA and Missoula County Fairgrounds) from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. You can also drop off your ballot at any polling place today. Due to limited capacity, we do not recommend dropping off your ballot at the Elections Center.

• Get a replacement absentee ballot: Come to the Elections Center (the green building) at 140 N. Russell Street.

• Register to vote: Come to the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell Street. Individuals in line by 8 p.m. will be served. You will be provided with a ballot after registering and can vote today.

•Vote in-person: Find your polling place at myvoterpagemt.com and cast your vote there.

With one day to go, the Elections Center (Missoula Votes) is a busy place today! Per state law, voter registration is currently paused and will be available again on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can still drop off your ballot today at the Elections Center's 24/7 drop box, which is secured and under video surveillance. If you wait until Tuesday, then you can drop your ballot off at McCormick Park, on Russell between the Fairgrounds and YMCA, or any polling place.

More than 60% of absentee ballots have been returned to the Missoula County Elections Office, and voters who need to drop off their ballots on Election Day can go to one of the following locations on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• McCormick Park - 600 Cregg Lane
• Russell Street - between YMCA and Fairgrounds
• Any polling place

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across Missoula County. Registered voters who did not receive ballots in the mail will vote at a polling place. Residents are encouraged to visit myvoterpagemt.com to check your polling location and make a plan to vote tomorrow.

Election Day voter registration is available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Elections Center (140 N. Russell St.). All voters in line by 8 p.m. will be served.

Preliminary election results will be available on the Montana Secretary of State’s website sosmt.gov/elections after 8 p.m. on election night.

Still have your absentee ballot? Here are your options to return it between now and Election Day.

Returning a ballot before Election Day ensures there is enough time to resolve any issues that could arise from the receipting and verification process.

Additionally, higher ballot return rates before Election Day increases the number of ballots included in the initial results report on election night. The more ballots there are to process on Election Day, the slower the results.

Your option for dropping of your ballot from now until Election Day is at the Elections Center. A secure 24-hour drop box is available on the north side of Building B at 140 N. Russell St.

Residents who are planning to vote in-person on Election Day are encouraged to find their polling place by visiting myvoterpagemt.com/

The Missoula County Elections Center will be open until 6 tonight, Nov. 1, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 2.

These extended hours are offered to give residents more time to register to vote, update their registration or receive other voter services ahead of Election Day.

Late registration ends Monday, Nov. 4, at noon. All voters in line by noon will be allowed to update their registration. Please note: By law, the Missoula County Elections Office does not issue ballots between 12 and 5 p.m. the day before any election. This is to ensure the register of voters is up to date when delivered to polling places on Election Day.

Election Day registration will be available at the Elections Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. All voters in line by 8 p.m. will be served. The wait time to register to vote on Election Day could be up to three hours.

Visit missoula.co/currentelection for more information.

You know what’s really spooky? Waiting until Election Day to drop off your absentee ballot!

Returning your ballot early ensures adequate time to resolve signature verification or other issues. Because Election Day less than one week away, absentee voters should use a drop box instead of returning their ballot by mail. The U.S. Postal Service cannot guarantee that ballots will arrive on time if mailed within seven days of Election Day.

Your option for dropping off your ballot from now until Election Day is at the Elections Center. A secure 24-hour drop box is available on the north side of Building B at the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St.

If you plan on voting at your polling place on Election Day, check your registration information at myvoterpagemt.com and make a plan to vote.

Ever wonder what happens to your ballot after you vote? Election tours start tomorrow and take place each week during November.

The Elections Office invites members of the public and media to tour the processes that take place before and after Election Day to ensure accuracy and integrity of elections.

The following will take place in the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell S.:

• 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31: Ballot processing
• 8:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4: Ballot counting begins, also called ballot tabulation
• Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day, all processes are open
• 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12: Provisional ballot count
• 8:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15: Post election audit
• 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18: Election canvass

Learn more at missoula.co/currentelection, or watch the videos at missoula.co/electionvideos

Today is Vote Early Day! Head to the voter services event today at the University of Montana's James E. Todd Building until 4 p.m. to register to vote and cast your ballot, drop off your absentee ballot or get help with other voter services.

You can also go the Elections Center until 6 p.m. today for any of these services!

Still need to register to vote? Come see us in person!

Because the election is fewer than 30 days away, Missoula County residents who need to register to vote or make changes to their registration, such as updating their address, must now do so in person at the Missoula County Elections Office or at a voter services event in your community.

The Elections Office will be open for extended hours next week on the following dates:

• Monday, Oct. 28, to Friday, Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Voter services at the Elections Office are provided in Building B at 140 N. Russell St.

For a list of voter services events in other communities, visit missoula.co/currentelection

✅ Drop off your absentee ballot
✅ Register to vote
✅ Update voter registration
✅ Get a replacement ballot

We are at the Frenchtown Fire Station until 7 p.m. tonight!!

We are on our way to Frenchtown! Come visit us at the Fire Station from 4 to 7 p.m.

Did you know? The elections process is open to the public!

Want to find out what happens to your ballot after you drop it off, or how we test machines? Visit missoula.co/electionvideos to learn more.

The Elections Office also invites members of the public and media to tour the processes that take place leading up to and after Election Day that ensure accuracy and integrity of elections. The following will take place in the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St.:

• 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29: Equipment testing
• 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31: Ballot processing
• 8:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4: Ballot counting begins (also called ballot tabulation)
• Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day; all processes are open
• 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12: Provisional ballot count
• 8:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15: Post-election audit
• 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18: Election canvass

Need to register to vote or make changes to your information?? Come visit us in the Lolo School at 5305 Farm Lane. We are open until 7 p.m.🗳️

Mythbuster: “Mail processing in Missoula is delayed, so you should not return your ballot by mail this year.”

This is false. While there were plans to move mail processing from Missoula to Spokane, this did not happen. The USPS offices in Missoula are ready to receive your ballot and ensure it gets to the Elections Center.

If you vote absentee, return postage is prepaid. Even with local processing, the USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than seven days before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Please hand deliver your ballot to the Elections Center or a drop off location after Oct. 29.

Still want some reassurance? You can track your ballot at myvoterpagemt.com

How can I return my ballot?

If you received a mail ballot for the Nov. 5 general election, you can return your completed ballot by dropping it in any mailbox.

In Missoula County, postage is paid! If you’re mailing your ballot, the U.S. Postal Service recommends sending it by Tuesday, Oct. 29.

After that, please use the ballot drop available at the Elections Center, located on the north side of Building B at 140 N. Russell St. This drop box is open 24 hours a day and is ADA accessible, lit overnight and protected by video and alarm systems.

There will be additional locations on Election Day.

Anyone can return your absentee ballot for you, but keep in mind that your vote is important. You should feel comfortable and confident in the person you give your ballot to.

Still have questions? Contact the Elections Office by calling 406-258-4751, emailing [email protected] or visiting 140 N. Russell St. in Missoula during open hours.

For more information about the upcoming election, visit missoulavotes.com

Keep an eye on your mailbox! Absentee ballots are in the mail today.

If you're not registered as absentee, you can vote in-person at your local polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Visit myvoterpagemt.com to verify your voter status and find your polling place.

Did you know? Returning your ballot early can help initial results on election night be more complete, since the Elections Office can start counting ballots the day before the election.

The more ballots there are to process on Election Day, the longer it will take to provide complete results. We encourage you to make an informed decision and return your ballot as soon as you can!

The Missoula County Elections Office will be closed this Monday, Oct. 14 in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Missoula County offices will be closed this Monday, Oct. 14 in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

We will host several events across Missoula County in the next several weeks to provide voter services to residents. Upcoming events include:

• Seeley Lake: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 4 to 7 p.m., Seeley Lake Tax Extension Office (3360 Hwy 83 N)
• Lolo: Thursday, Oct. 17, 4 to 7 p.m., Lolo School (5305 Farm Ln)
• Frenchtown: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4 to 7 p.m., Frenchtown Fire Station (16875 Marion St.)
• University of Montana: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., James E. Todd Building
• Evaro: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Gray Wolf Peak Casino (20750 Hwy. 93)

Residents can register to vote, update their registration, request a replacement ballot or drop off their mail ballot at any of these events. Visit missoulavotes.com for more information.

Myth: "It’s too late to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election."

This is very FALSE! You may have seen some national social media accounts state the deadline to register to vote in Montana has passed. This is not true! You can register to vote up to and on Election Day in Montana.

While “regular” registration – when you can register via mail/email – is over for this election, you can still register to vote in person. You can do this through Monday, Nov. 4, at 12 p.m. at the Missoula County Elections Office at 140 N. Russell St (Building B) or at a voter services event in your community (go to missoulavotes.com for a schedule).

Election Day registration will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, with longer-than-normal wait times expected, we encourage voters to make a plan to register and vote before then. Based on previous years, you could be waiting in line for up to three hours to register to vote on Election Day.

Unsure if you’re registered to vote? Check myvoterpagemt.com

Need to register to vote? Visit missoula.co/registertovote and follow the instructions.

Ballots are being prepared and are almost ready to mail to absentee voters!

Ballots will be put in the mail on Friday, Oct. 11. Voters will receive their ballots by mail if they are registered as absentee.

All ballots are due at the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St. by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Remember, postmarked by then does not count! The ballot needs to be at the Elections Center by 8 p.m.

The USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than seven days before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Oct. 29. Please hand deliver your ballot to the Elections Center after Oct. 29.

You may also drop off your ballot at any polling place or drop location on Election Day. Find your polling place at myvoterpagemt.com

If a voter is not registered as absentee, they are welcome to vote in-person at their local polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Visit myvoterpagemt.com to verify your voter status.

Regular, or mail-in, registration closes soon! The deadline for mail-in voter registration is next Monday, Oct. 7. Don’t know your registration status?

Visit myvoterpagemt.com to verify if you are registered.

Election Day registration will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the Elections Office. You’ll likely be waiting in line for a while on Election Day though, we recommend making a plan to register and vote ahead of time.

Based on previous years, wait time to register to vote on Election Day could be up to three hours. Current wait times for voter services at the Elections Office are less than 10 minutes.

Need to register to vote? Visit missoula.co/registertovote and follow the instructions.

Don’t wait until Election Day to register to vote! Here are some important dates to know ahead of the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5:

• Mail-in registration, also called regular registration, runs through Monday, Oct. 7. Voters can email the registration form, too.

• In-person registration, also called late registration, begins Tuesday, Oct. 8, and runs through Monday, Nov. 4, at noon. During this time, you must go to the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St. Building B in Missoula to register to vote. You can also register to vote at a voter services event in your area; see missoulavotes.com for a schedule.

• Ballots mail on Friday, Oct. 11.

Unsure about your registration status? Visit myvoterpagemt.com to review your voter registration.

Still have questions? Contact the Elections Office by calling 406-258-4751, emailing [email protected] or visiting 140 N. Russell St. Building B in Missoula during open hours.

For more information about the upcoming election, visit https://missoulavotes.com/