Missoula County sends out absentee ballots for November 5th Election Day

HELENA — Missoula County sent out mail ballots Friday, just before we hit 25 days until Election Day on Saturday.

According to the Montana Secretary of State's Office, over 500,700 absentee ballots are now going to voters statewide.

The Missoula County Elections Office mailed out nearly 65,000 active voters who are registered to vote absentee in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election.

Polling places also will be open on Nov. 5 for the general election. Residents who do not receive ballots in the mail may not be registered absentee and would instead vote at a polling place on Election Day.

Residents can visit myvoterpagemt.com and click on the “Voter Registration” tab to see whether they are registered to vote absentee.

Due to the redistricting cycle following the 2020 Census, polling place voters may see changes to where they can vote on Election Day. Residents can also visit the Missoula Votes map for directions to find their polling place.

Ballots are due back to the Elections Office by 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5. Postmarked dates are not sufficient. The USPS recommends mailing ballots no later than seven days before Election Day, which for this election is Tuesday, Oct. 29.

There will be a 24/7 ballot drop box available at the Election Center at 140 North Russell Street in Missoula for the Nov. 5 election.

Voters can also drop off ballots at any polling place or the drive-thru locations at McCormick Park or on Russell Street between the YMCA and the Fairgrounds on Election Day only.

Missoula County residents who need to register to vote, update their address or make other changes to their registration must now do so in person.

Inactive voters must update their registration to receive a ballot in the mail. They can do this at the Elections Office or at one of the following voter services events:

• Seeley Lake: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 4 to 7 p.m., Seeley Lake Tax Extension Office (3360 Hwy. 83 N.)
• Lolo: Thursday, Oct. 17, 4 to 7 p.m., Lolo School (5305 Farm Lane)
• Frenchtown: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4 to 7 p.m., Frenchtown Fire Station (16875 Marion St.)
• University of Montana: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., James E. Todd Building
• Evaro: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Gray Wolf Peak Casino (20750 Hwy. 93)

Visit missoulavotes.com for more information or contact the Missoula County Elections Office at electioninfo@missoulacounty.us or 406-258-4751.