Voting

This is the state’s biggest election to have in-person voting since polling places were closed during the pandemic. Despite claims to the contrary, delays in results are normal.

A steady stream of people flowed through the doors of the Montana Pavillion in Metra Park to drop off ballots Tuesday morning a few hours after polls opened for Montana’s primary election.

It is too late to register to vote, but voters can still turn in their ballots to election offices before 8 p.m. Tuesday. A new law requires voters to show photo identification when they cast a ballot.

Since the last time Montanans went to the polls, new voting laws have been passed, challenged in court, blocked and unblocked. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar and Freddy Monares make sense of it all and answer questions about where and how to cast a ballot in the June 7 primary.

The justices have overturned a district court injunction blocking new voting laws.

Workers with the advocacy group Western Native Voice are setting up kiosks in places like libraries, community colleges and clinics that enable users to start the voter registration process.

The Montana Legislature this year made several changes to the way people can vote, from same-day registration to ID requirements. The biggest takeaway: don't wait until Election Day to register or get answers to your questions.

The new laws in question limit voter identification acceptable at the polls, restrict ballot drop-offs and eliminate same-day voter registration.

Several Montana tribal nations and legal nonprofits on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging two new laws they say disenfranchise American Indian voters.

Voting rights advocates are concerned a new law limiting who can help somebody with an absentee ballot could disenfranchise Montanans who already have trouble voting. Supporters say the policy strengthens the integrity of Treasure State elections.