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Montanans Break Voter Turnout Record Before Election Day Arrives

Tabulator operator Jeff Sillick prepares a stack of ballots for counting in the Lewis and Clark County elections office on Nov. 2, 2020.
Tabulator operator Jeff Sillick prepares a stack of ballots for counting in the Lewis and Clark County elections office on Nov. 2, 2020.

More Montanans have cast ballots in the 2020 general election than any election before.

Montana broke the record Monday, with two full days of voting left, meaning that count will climb before polls close on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

The 2016 general election held the previous record when more than 516,000 Montanans voted. According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 517,000 Montanans have returned ballots as of mid-day Monday. 

Forty-five of Montana’s 56 counties are conducting the election by all-mail ballot voting in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Eleven counties are hosting polling place elections. 

Montana’s three high profile races for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House have been tight in recent polls. The races could bring about major change for state politics and the make up of Congress. 

It’s too late for voters to return ballots by mail. They must be returned in-person to drop-off locations. People wishing to vote can still register and vote at their county election office before 8 p.m. on election day.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit .

Shaylee is a UM Journalism School student. She reports and helps produce Montana Evening News on MTPR.