Montana voting issues

Election and registration information

 * Most polling places in Montana will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 4, with the exception of polling places with fewer than 400 electors, which may open at noon.


 * Bring your ID to vote! A driver’s license, tribal ID, state-issued ID card, government check, utility bill, or many other forms of ID are sufficient. The important thing is to bring identification.


 * If you forget your identification, ask an election judge about alternatives. The polling place elector ID form can be used to confirm your identity, you can vote a provisional ballot, or you can return later with the identification.

Late registration

 * Late registration. Register and receive a ballot at your county election office from Tuesday, October 7 through noon on Monday, November 3, and on Election Day until the close of polls.

2008 election
For the 2008 election Montana used the following voting machines in addition to hand-counted paper ballots in some counties. For a county-by-county list of the specific machines (and the source for this section) see Verified Voting's Verifier tool.

Optical scan machines:
 * Election Systems & Software's Model 100
 * Election Systems & Software's Model 650
 * Sequoia Optech III-P Eagle

Assistive Devices for Marking Paper Ballots:
 * Election Systems & Software's AutoMARK Technical Systems AutoMARK VAT

Governmental election authorities
Secretary of State Brad Johnson


 * Election and Government Services website: http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/index.asp

Contact information:
 * Elections and Government Services Division


 * P.O. Box 202801
 * Helena, MT 59620-2801


 * State Capitol, Room 260
 * 1301 6th Avenue
 * Helena, MT 59620
 * (406) 444-4732 Fax (406) 444-2023

Email: [mailto:soselection@mt.gov soselection@mt.gov]


 * Toll-free Voter Hotline: 1-888-884-VOTE (8683)


 * County Election Offices

Election threats

 * November 4, 2008. The Secretary of State issued a warning to voters to ignore text messages advising them that they can vote the following day. The election is Tuesday only. Similar deceptive text messages were reported reported in several states.


 * The Montana Republican Party challenged the voter registrations of 6,000 people in the state’s Democratic strongholds, such as the university towns like Missoula and rural counties with Native American reservations. The move was widely condemned, and the challenge subsequently withdrawn. In the wake of the controversy, party executive director Jake Eaton stepped down.


 * For an extensive log of voting machine problems, see the VotersUnite! report on election incidents.

State and local non-governmental election organizations
League of Women Voters

LWV of Montana, Ms. Gladys Hardin, President; Joan Hurdle, Co-President
 * 1923 East Broadway
 * Missoula, MT 59802
 * Phone:406-549-4120
 * E-mail: lwvmt@bresnan.net
 * http://www.marsweb.com/~lwvmt

Local Leagues:
 * Billings
 * Bozeman Area
 * Helena Area
 * Missoula
 * Ravalli County