Democratic Party primaries in Montana, 2020

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2022
2018

Democratic Party primaries, 2020

Montana Democratic Party.jpg

Primary Date
June 2, 2020

Primary Runoff Date
N/A

Federal elections
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
Democratic primaries for U.S. House

State party
Democratic Party of Montana
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Montana on June 2, 2020. Click here for more information about the Republican primaries.

Note that the dates and terms of participation for presidential preference primaries and caucuses sometimes differ from those that apply to primaries for state-level and other federal offices, which are the subject of this article. For more information on this state's presidential nomination process, click here.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in Montana, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)

The 2020 U.S. Senate elections in Montana took place on November 3, 2020. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

U.S. House

See also: United States House election in Montana, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)

The 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Montana took place on November 3, 2020. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. House from the state's one at-large congressional district.

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

State elections

State Senate

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2020
The Montana State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Montana State Senate elections, 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • * = The primary was canceled and the candidate advanced.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 2

Green check mark transparent.pngKyle Waterman  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngCarl Glimm
Paul Longfield
Norm Nunnally

Did not make the ballot:
Jerry O'Neil 

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngGuthrie Quist  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKeith Regier (i)

District 6

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Hertz

District 7

Gerald Cuvillier
Green check mark transparent.pngDiane Magone

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Brown

District 10

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Fitzpatrick (i)
Jeni Dodd

District 15

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Osmundson (i)

District 16

Jestin Dupree
Kristofer FourStar
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Fox
Bridget Smith

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 17

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Did not make the ballot:
Tracy Schuster 

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Lang (i)

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngPat Mischel  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Hinebauch (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Shane Gainan 

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngRae Peppers

Green check mark transparent.pngJason Small (i)  Candidate Connection

District 23

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTom McGillvray

District 25

Green check mark transparent.pngJen Gross (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Price

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngMargaret MacDonald (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Friedel  Candidate Connection
Rodney Garcia

Did not make the ballot:
Larry Schuster 

District 28

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Tom Richmond (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBrad Molnar

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngChristopher Pope  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRick Vaught

Did not make the ballot:
Tyler Vance 

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJoshua-Luke O'Connor*
District 35

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Debra Brown
Gary Perry
Green check mark transparent.pngWalt Sales

District 36

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJeffrey Welborn (i)

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Lamb*  Candidate Connection
District 37

Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Lynch

Green check mark transparent.pngAaron Meaders

District 38

Green check mark transparent.pngEdith McClafferty (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Buterbaugh  Candidate Connection
Jane Hamman

District 39

Gordon Pierson
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Sweeney

Green check mark transparent.pngSuzzann Nordwick

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngCatherine Scott
Jacob Torgerson

Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Gauthier (i)

District 44

Timothy Gibney
Green check mark transparent.pngMargaret Gorski  Candidate Connection

Nancy Ballance
Green check mark transparent.pngTheresa Manzella

Did not make the ballot:
Scott Roy McLean 

District 45

Green check mark transparent.pngEllie Boldman  Candidate Connection
Benjamin Burda
Erica Siate

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Warner

Libertarian Party

Terry Lucke

Green check mark transparent.pngNolen Skime

District 46

Alex Gray  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngShannon O'Brien  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngNiki Sardot

District 47

Green check mark transparent.pngChase Porter Gay  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Salomon (i)

Green Party

Green check mark transparent.pngGary Marbut

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngDevin Braaten*  Candidate Connection

State House

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2020
The Montana House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Montana State House elections, 2020

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • * = The primary was canceled and the candidate advanced.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Green check mark transparent.pngMarvin Sather  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Gunderson (i)

District 2

Green check mark transparent.pngLori Ramesz

Green check mark transparent.pngNeil Duram (i)

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngDebo Powers (i)  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Garrett Henson  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBraxton Mitchell  Candidate Connection

District 4

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Regier (i)

District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngDave Fern (i)

Shawn Leslie Guymon
Green check mark transparent.pngCatherine Owens

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngJerramy Dear-Ruel  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAmy Regier
Bruce Tutvedt

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngRoss Frazier  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Garner (i)
Jerry O'Neil

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngNicholas Ramlow*
District 8

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Fuller (i)

Libertarian Party

This primary was canceled.

Did not make the ballot:
Joshua Forsythe  (Libertarian Party)

District 9

The Democratic primary was canceled.


David Dunn (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Putnam  Candidate Connection

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Allen

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Noland (i)
Doug Mahlum  Candidate Connection

District 11

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDerek Skees (i)
Dee Kirk-Boon  Candidate Connection

District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngGerry Browning

Green check mark transparent.pngLinda Reksten

District 13

Green check mark transparent.pngColleen Hinds

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Fielder

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngCade Stiles*  Candidate Connection
District 14

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDenley Loge (i)
Mark French

District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngMarvin Weatherwax Jr. (i)
Nick White

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 16

Green check mark transparent.pngTyson Running Wolf (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngBarnett Sporkin-Morrison

Green check mark transparent.pngRoss Fitzgerald (i)

District 18

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngLlew Jones (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Bob Phalen 

District 19

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngWendy McKamey (i)

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Schultz*
District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Smith  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngFred Anderson (i)

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngJaime Horn  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngEdward Buttrey (i)
Sally Tucker

District 22

Matt Rains
Green check mark transparent.pngJasmine Taylor  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngLola Sheldon-Galloway (i)

District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngBrad Hamlett (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngScot Kerns

District 24

Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Bessette (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Galloway

District 25

Green check mark transparent.pngJasmine Krotkov (i)  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Gist

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngHelena Lovick

Sheridan Buck
Rudolf Tankink
Green check mark transparent.pngJeremy Trebas

District 27

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJoshua Kassmier (i)

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngKrystal Steinmetz  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngEd Hill

District 29

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDan Bartel (i)

District 30

Green check mark transparent.pngCindy Palmer

Green check mark transparent.pngWylie Galt (i)

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Smith

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngJonathan Windy Boy (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBruce Meyers

District 33

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCasey Knudsen (i)
Joyce Stone

District 34

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRhonda Knudsen (i)
Tracy Schuster  Candidate Connection

District 35

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Joel G. Krautter (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBrandon Ler

District 36

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Jim Johnson
Charles Peterson Jr.
Green check mark transparent.pngBob Phalen
Jason Stuart

Did not make the ballot:
Tanner Roe 

District 37

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Frederick Moore (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJerry Schillinger

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJacob Kitson*
District 38

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKenneth Holmlund (i)

District 39

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngGeraldine Custer (i)
Amanda Scheidler  Candidate Connection

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngKris Spanjian

Green check mark transparent.pngBarry Usher (i)

District 41

August Scalpcane
Green check mark transparent.pngRynalea Whiteman Pena

Did not make the ballot:
Kaden Jeray Walksnice 

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 42

Green check mark transparent.pngSharon Stewart-Peregoy (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 43

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKerri Seekins-Crowe

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngMelody Benes*
District 44

Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Dennis

Green check mark transparent.pngLarry Brewster (i)

District 45

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKatie Zolnikov

Did not make the ballot:
Larry Brewster 

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngNathan McKenty*
District 46

Green check mark transparent.pngZach Ladson

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Mercer (i)

District 47

Green check mark transparent.pngKatharin Kelker (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngTJ Smith

District 48

Green check mark transparent.pngJessica Karjala (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngLeigh Verrill-Rhys

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngEmma Kerr-Carpenter (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngColin Nygaard

District 50

Green check mark transparent.pngJade Bahr (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMallerie Stromswold

District 51

Green check mark transparent.pngAnne Giuliano

Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Fleming (i)

District 52

Green check mark transparent.pngHannah Olson  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJimmy Patelis

District 53

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Lenz (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Ray Tracy 

District 54

Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Thomsen

Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Moore (i)

District 55

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngVince Ricci (i)

District 56

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSue Vinton (i)

District 57

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngFiona Nave

District 58

Green check mark transparent.pngBetsy Scanlin

Green check mark transparent.pngSeth Berglee (i)

District 59

Green check mark transparent.pngDan Vermillion

Green check mark transparent.pngMarty Malone  Candidate Connection

District 60

Green check mark transparent.pngLaurie Bishop (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Lamm

District 61

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Hamilton (i)
Brian Close

The Republican primary was canceled.


Libertarian Party

This primary was canceled.

Did not make the ballot:
Daniel Bennett  (Libertarian Party)

District 62

Green check mark transparent.pngEd Stafman  Candidate Connection

The Republican primary was canceled.


Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngFrancis Wendt*
District 63

Green check mark transparent.pngAlice Buckley

Green check mark transparent.pngBryan Haysom
Jason Zeng  (unofficially withdrew)

District 64

Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Popiel
Josh Seckinger

Randy Chamberlin
Green check mark transparent.pngJane Gillette

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngDoug Campbell*  Candidate Connection
District 65

Green check mark transparent.pngKelly Kortum  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJolene Crum

District 66

Green check mark transparent.pngDenise Hayman (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 67

Green check mark transparent.pngColette Campbell

Green check mark transparent.pngJedediah Hinkle

Did not make the ballot:
Don Seifert 

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew Schaefer*
District 68

Green check mark transparent.pngClaire Broling

Bruce Grubbs (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngCaleb Hinkle

District 69

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Carlson
Don Seifert

District 70

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Darling (i)
Tim Ravndal

District 71

Green check mark transparent.pngIan Root

Green check mark transparent.pngKenneth Walsh  Candidate Connection
Cindy Younkin

District 72

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTom Welch (i)

District 73

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Keane (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMarjory McCaffery

District 74

Green check mark transparent.pngDerek Harvey (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Kephart

District 75

Green check mark transparent.pngJ. Bryher Herak

Greg DeVries (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngMarta Bertoglio

Did not make the ballot:
Ken Stuker 

District 76

Green check mark transparent.pngDonavon Hawk  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAndy Johnson

District 77

Green check mark transparent.pngSara Novak

Green check mark transparent.pngHeather Blom

District 78

Green check mark transparent.pngCindy Hiner

Green check mark transparent.pngGregory Frazer

Did not make the ballot:
Suzzann Nordwick 

District 79

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Farris-Olsen (i)
Ed Coleman

Green check mark transparent.pngDennison Rivera  Candidate Connection

District 80

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBecky Beard (i)

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngRon Vandevender*
District 81

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Caferro (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Leach

District 82

Green check mark transparent.pngMoffie Funk (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDebbie Westlake

District 83

Green check mark transparent.pngKim Abbott (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDarin Gaub  Candidate Connection

District 84

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Ann Dunwell (i)
Jon Jackson

Green check mark transparent.pngCharlie Hull

District 85

Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Jackson

Green check mark transparent.pngMichele Binkley
Kyle Ellsworth
Matthew Locati
Hollis Poe

District 86

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Bedey (i)
Kenneth Allen

District 87

Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Merrill

Jolena Bugli
Sashin Hume
Green check mark transparent.pngRon Marshall

District 88

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSharon Greef (i)
Jim Crews
Scott Roy McLean

District 89

Green check mark transparent.pngKatie Sullivan (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngGary Wanberg

District 90

Green check mark transparent.pngMarilyn Marler (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngLana Hamilton

District 91

Green check mark transparent.pngConnie Keogh (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBethanie Calvert Wanberg

District 92

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Browder  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Hopkins (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Shane Curry 

District 93

Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Pavlock  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Read (i)
Ralph Foster

District 94

Green check mark transparent.pngTom France
Jim McLean

Green check mark transparent.pngKelsey Cooley

District 95

Green check mark transparent.pngDanny Tenenbaum

Green check mark transparent.pngRebecca Dawson
Karen Sherman

Did not make the ballot:
Curtis Bridges 

District 96

Green check mark transparent.pngLoni Conley  Candidate Connection
Dakota Hileman  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Whitman

District 97

Green check mark transparent.pngLouAnn Hansen  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBrad Tschida (i)

District 98

Green check mark transparent.pngWillis Curdy (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngNancy Burgoyne

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Armerding*  Candidate Connection
District 99

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Thane  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Moore

District 100

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrea Olsen (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCarol Minjares

State executive offices

See also: Montana state executive official elections, 2020
Nine state executive offices are up for election in Montana in 2020: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, commissioner of securities and insurance, auditor, and public service commission (3 seats). To see a full list of candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Governor and lieutenant governor

See also: Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Secretary of state

See also: Montana Secretary of State election, 2020
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Superintendent of public instruction

See also: Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2020
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Attorney general

See also: Montana Attorney General election, 2020
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Commissioner of securities and insurance, state auditor

See also: Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Auditor election, 2020
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Public Service Commission

See also: Montana Public Service Commission election, 2020
District 2
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 3
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 4
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Context of the 2020 elections

Montana Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Fifteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R
Senate D D D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D R R R R R R R R R R R R S S R R S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

State party overview

See also: Democratic Party of Montana
Montana Democratic Party.jpg

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic state party affiliates.


Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Montana utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Montana, polling place must be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., although in areas with fewer than 400 registered voters, polling places may open as late as 12:00 p.m.[3]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Montana, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a non-temporary resident of Montana for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election.[4] People serving a felony sentence in a penal institution and those who have been declared by a court to be of unsound mind are not eligible to vote.[5]

An individual can register to vote in person by completing a registration application at their county election office. They can register by mailing the application to their county election administrator or submitting it when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID. Applicants may also register to vote at their county election offices, certain designated locations, or at their designated polling location on Election Day.[5][6]

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Montana does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Montana does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Montana allows same-day voter registration. An eligible voter may register before noon on Election Day.[7]

Residency requirements

In order to register to vote in Montana, applicants must have lived in the state for at least 30 days prior to the election. Montana law says an individual does not gain residency if they relocate for, "temporary work, training, or an educational program, without the intention of making that county or the state the individual's permanent home at the conclusion of the temporary work, training, or educational program."[8]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Montana does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site My Voter Page, run by the Montana secretary of state’s office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Montana requires voters to present identification while voting.

Montana's voter identification requirements are outlined in Section 13-13-114 of Montana Code. The law states, "Before an elector is permitted to receive a ballot or vote, the elector shall present to an election judge one of the following forms of identification showing the elector's name that is current, valid, and readable:"[10]

  • (i) a Montana driver's license, Montana state identification card issued pursuant to 61-12-501, military identification card, tribal photo identification card, United States passport, or Montana concealed carry permit, or student photo identification card issued by the Montana university system or a school that is a member of the national association of intercollegiate athletics; or
  • (ii) (A) a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address; and (B) photo identification that shows the elector's name.[11]

Early voting

Montana permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Montana. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[12]

To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by county election officials by noon the day prior to the election. A returned absentee ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day in order to be counted.[12]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Three of 56 Montana counties—5.4 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Blaine County, Montana 2.46% 15.32% 19.24%
Hill County, Montana 17.18% 3.50% 12.21%
Roosevelt County, Montana 6.49% 15.58% 26.27%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Montana with 56.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 35.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1892 and 2016, Montana voted Republican 65.6 percent of the time and Democratic 34.4 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Montana voted Republican all five times.[13]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Montana. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[14][15]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 34 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 17.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 28 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 17.2 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 28.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 34.7 points. Trump won 14 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed April 19, 2023
  2. Christi Jacobsen Montana Secretary of State,"Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 19, 2023
  3. Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-1-106. Time of opening and closing of polls for all elections -- exceptions," accessed June 10, 2025
  4. Montana law says an individual does not gain residency if they relocate for "temporary work, training, or an educational program, without the intention of making that county or the state the individual's permanent home at the conclusion of the temporary work, training, or educational program." See HB 413 from 2025 for more information.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Montana Voter Registration Application,” accessed June 10, 2025
  6. Montana Motor Vehicle Division, “Additional Considerations when Getting Your License or ID,” accessed June 10, 2025
  7. Montana Legislative Services, "SB 490: Revise election laws regarding late registration," accessed June 9, 2025
  8. Montana Legislative Services, "HB 413: Revise election laws regarding residency," accessed June 9, 2025
  9. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  10. Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-13-114. Voter Identification And Marking Precinct Register Book Before Elector Votes -- Provisional Voting," accessed June 9, 2025
  11. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Voting by Absentee Ballot,” accessed June 10, 2025
  13. 270towin.com, "Montana," accessed June 29, 2017
  14. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  15. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017