How to Vote in Montana: 2028 Deadlines, Early Voting & Poll Hours

To vote in the November 7, 2028 general election, register by 30 days before Election Day.

Late registration continues through noon the day before Election Day.

Dates marked ≈ are computed from state statute and can shift with county practice. Confirm your exact deadline and check your registration status at Montana's official site.

Early voting opens ≈ October 4, 2026 — 30 days before Election Day. It runs through Day before Election Day.

Confirm exact locations and hours — which vary by county — at Montana's official election site.

Any registered voter in Montana may request a mail ballot — no excuse required. Request deadline: Day before Election Day at noon.

Return rule: Must be received by close of polls on Election Day

Track your ballot: look up your record at Montana's voter portal to see when your ballot was mailed, received and accepted.

Details and request forms are at Montana's official election site.

A photo ID is requested, but a voter without one can still cast a ballot that counts without a later trip back — for example by signing an affidavit or having a provisional ballot verified some other way.

See the full list of accepted ID at Montana's official election site.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. MT on November 7, 2028.

See how Montana's closing time compares nationwide on the full poll closing times by state page, or confirm your local hours at Montana's official election site.

Election-night totals are unofficial. The count becomes official in two steps:

• Local: County boards of canvassers — by about November 17, 2026. Within 14 days; the board waits day to day if returns are missing.
• Statewide: State Board of Canvassers — November 30, 2026 on the 2026 calendar. Within 27 days of the election.

Certifying is a required step, not a second vote on the result. What happens if a local board won’t sign off, every state’s deadlines and how a result can be challenged are on how election results are certified.