Voting Access Scorecard - Montana
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Montana. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Montana ranks 12. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 20 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later MT Code §§ 13-2-301 and 13-2-304: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/2/13-2-301.htm; http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/2/13-2-304.htm | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration MT Code §§ 13-2-301 and 13-2-304: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/2/13-2-301.htm; http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/2/13-2-304.htm | Y |
| State has automatic registration Montana Secretary of State: https://sos.mt.gov/elections/vote/index | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Montana Secretary of State: https://sos.mt.gov/elections/vote/index | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Montana Secretary of State: https://sos.mt.gov/elections/vote/index | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134460-absentee-voting | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134460-absentee-voting | N |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134460-absentee-voting | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134460-absentee-voting | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134460-absentee-voting | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/absentee | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Mont. Code Ann. §13-13-212(4): http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/13/13-13-212.htm | Y |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Montana Secretary of State: https://sos.mt.gov/elections/absentee | N |
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| State allows voters to register online Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/portals/142/Elections/documents/Officials/Voter-Registration-Application.pdf | N |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Montana Secretary of State: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Montana Secretary of State: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/ | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134456-identification | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134456-identification | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134456-identification | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form MT Code 13-2-402(7): http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/2/13-2-402.htm (registration may be cancelled if voter fails to respond to confirmation mailings, is placed on the inactive list, and then fails to vote in two consecutive federal general elections). | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Montana will only provide public information. Independent Record: http://helenair.com/news/politics/state/montana-won-t-give-up-private-voter-info-to-trump/article_a4744742-f9bc-5976-8d2e-f275d8defed3.html | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete MT Code § 13-1-111: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/1/13-1-111.htm | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration MT Code § 13-1-111: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/1/13-1-111.htm | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole MT Code § 13-1-111: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/1/13-1-111.htm | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail MT Code § 13-17-103: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/17/13-17-103.htm | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Must attend training and receive a current certificate of training. Mont. Code § 13-4-102: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/4/13-4-102.htm; § 13-4-203: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/4/13-4-203.htm | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134463-voting-systems | N |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Montana Secretary of State: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/faq#371134463-voting-systems | Y |
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