How to vote in Montana’s primary election

Instead, voters are urged to drop off their ballots off in person.

First, voters can drop off their ballots early at their local county elections office. If they are voting on Election Day, other ballot drop boxes can be found here.

In Montana, if a voter can’t get to the drop-off points, ballots can be delivered by a caregiver, family member, household member or acquaintance. They also can’t collect or deliver more than six ballots total.

As of Friday, the Secretary of State’s Office estimated 37.77% of absentee ballots had been returned. That brings the statewide turnout, including those who will vote Tuesday, to around 22.5%. For those who vote on Election Day, polling places open in the morning and close at 8 p.m.

Ballots need to be in the poll workers’ hands by 8 p.m. Tuesday to be counted, said Connor Fitzpatrick, Lewis and Clark County Elections Division supervisor. Postmarks do not count.

If ballots are turned in at the wrong county or submitted late, they can’t be included. People who return ballots voting in more than one party’s primary also won’t have their votes counted, he warned.

“Montana’s an open primary state, which means voters can choose between multiple ballots,” Fitzpatrick said.

For example, a registered voter can vote in the Republican primary and must abstain from the Democratic ballot.

“If multiple (ballots) are filled out, we can’t guess which one you meant to vote in,” he added. That means all ballots from that voter are thrown out.