Ballots for Montana’s all mail primary election will be sent out Friday, May 8.
All 56 county election officials notified the state last month they’d take advantage of Governor Steve Bullock’s directive amid the COVID-19 pandemic allowing counties to conduct the June 2 primary by mail ballot.
County election offices will open for in-person late registration and ballot drop-off May 27 through June 2, though polling places will be closed on election day.
Satellite voting offices will also offer early voting services, with new social distancing protocols.
Postage stamps are not necessary to return mail ballots. Counties will be reimbursed for postage by the state.
A new law from the 2019 legislative session allows some counties to begin counting absentee ballots a day prior to the election.
Also new this year is a limit on the number of ballots someone may return on others’ behalf.
Ballots must be received by 8 P.M. June 2.
Montanans already tend to vote by mail. Roughly 79 percent of primary election voters cast an absentee in 2018. That year 42 percent of registered voters participated in the primary election. This year’s turnout will likely be higher, as top of the ticket races like the governor’s and president’s seat are on the ballot.
