How to run for office in Montana

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Montana, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Montana. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2024 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Montana in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Montana	U.S. Senate	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	3/11/2024	Source
Montana	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	12,694	5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	6/3/2024	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Montana	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$1,740.00	3/11/2024	Source
Montana	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	6,128	$1,740.00	6/3/2024	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2022 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Montana	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$1,740.00	3/14/2022	Source
Montana	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of total votes cast for the last successful candidate	$1,740.00	6/6/2022	Source

2020

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2020 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Montana in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Montana	U.S. Senate	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	3/9/2020	Source
Montana	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	12,694	5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	6/1/2020	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Montana	1st Congressional District	Major party	0	N/A	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	N/A	Source
Montana	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	25,221	5% of all votes cast for this office in the last general election	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	N/A	Source
Montana	At-large District	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,740.00	Percentage of annual salary	3/9/2020	Source
Montana	At-large District	Unaffiliated	12,833	5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Montana House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Montana House of Representatives	Qualified party	N/A	$15.00	3/9/2020	Source
Montana House of Representatives	Unaffiliated	5% of votes cast for the last successful candidate for the office	$15.00	6/1/2020	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Montana State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Montana State Senate	Qualified party	N/A	$15.00	3/9/2020	Source
Montana State Senate	Unaffiliated	5% of votes cast for the last successful candidate for the office	$15.00	6/1/2020	Source

2018

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2018 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 12, 2018

2016

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Montana in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
March 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering January 1 through February 25)–statewide candidates only
March 14, 2016	Ballot access	Filing deadline for primary candidates
April 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering February 26 through March 27)–statewide candidates only
May 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering March 28 through April 26)–statewide candidates only
May 3, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering beginning of campaign through April 28)–state district candidates only
May 23, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering April 27 through May 18)–statewide candidates only
May 26, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering April 29 through May 21)–state district candidates only
May 31, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for independent, minor party and indigent candidates to submit petitions to county election officials
June 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering May 19 through May 27)–statewide candidates only
June 6, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for independent, minor party and indigent candidates to submit declarations and filing fees to the necessary filing official
June 7, 2016	Election date	Primary election
June 27, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering May 28 through June 22)–statewide candidates only
June 27, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering May 22 through June 22)–state district candidates only
July 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering June 23 through June 26)–statewide candidates only
August 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering June 27 through July 27)–statewide candidates only
September 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering July 28 through August 27)–statewide candidates only
October 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering August 28 through September 26)–statewide candidates only
October 4, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering June 23 through September 29)–state district candidates only
October 24, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering September 27 through October 19)–statewide candidates only
October 27, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering September 30 through October 22)–state district candidates only
November 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering October 20 through October 27)–statewide candidates only
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
November 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering October 28 through November 23)–statewide candidates only
November 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Campaign finance report due (covering October 23 through November 23)–state district candidates only
Source: Montana Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed June 12, 2015 Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, "Statewide Candidates: Candidate Finance Report Calendar: 2015-2016," accessed October 28, 2015

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: Montana elections, 2015 There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative, or congressional elections in Montana in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections and Montana elections, 2014 Montana held a primary election on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: 2 members in the Public Service Commission 1 seat in the United States Senate 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives 25 seats in the Montana State Senate 100 seats in the Montana House of Representatives The filing deadline for major party candidates was March 10, 2014. For independent and minor party candidates, the filing deadline was May 27, 2014. To qualify as a political party in time for the 2014 elections, paperwork needed to be filed by March 3, 2014. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description March 3, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for new political parties March 10, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for qualified party candidates March 10, 2014 Campaign finance Monthly report due (statewide candidates only) - covers January 1 through March 5 April 10, 2014 Campaign finance Monthly report due (statewide candidates only) - covers March 6 through April 5 May 19, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-primary report due (statewide candidates only) - covers April 6 through May 14 May 22, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-primary report due (legislative and Public Service Commission candidates only) - covers date of first contribution through May 17 May 27, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent and non-qualified party candidates May 29, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-primary report due (statewide candidates only) - covers May 15 through May 24 June 3, 2014 Election date Primary election date June 23, 2014 Campaign finance Post-primary report due (statewide candidates only) - covers May 25 through June 18 June 23, 2014 Campaign finance Post-primary report due (legislative and Public Service Commission candidates only) - covers May 18 through June 18 July 10, 2014 Campaign finance Monthly report due (statewide candidates only) - covers June 19 through July 5 August 10, 2014 Campaign finance Monthly report due (statewide candidates only) - covers July 6 through August 5 September 10, 2014 Campaign finance Monthly report due (statewide candidates only) - covers August 6 through September 5 October 20, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-general report due (statewide candidates only) - covers September 6 through October 15 October 23, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-general report due (legislative and Public Service Commission candidates only) - covers June 19 through October 18 October 30, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-general report due (statewide candidates only) - covers October 16 through October 25 November 4, 2014 Election date General election November 24, 2014 Campaign finance Post-general report due (statewide candidates only) - covers October 26 through November 19 November 24, 2014 Campaign finance Post-general report due (legislative and Public Service Commission candidates only) - covers October 19 through November 19

Process to become a candidate

For qualified party candidates

See statutes: Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 201 of the Montana Code

In order to qualify for placement on the primary ballot, a candidate for the nomination of a recognized political party must file a declaration of nomination and pay the required filing fees. The declaration must include an oath of candidacy, which the candidate is required to sign to affirm that, under the state constitution and applicable federal and state laws, he or she is qualified to hold the office being sought. This paperwork must be filed with the Montana Secretary of State if the office being sought is a congressional seat, a state or district office voted for in more than one county, or a state legislative seat.

Filing fees are established in Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 202, of the Montana Code Annotated 2023. These fees are summarized in the table below.

Filing fees
Office sought	How the fee is determined
For offices earning an annual salary of $2,500 or less and members of the state legislature	$15
For offices (except county-level) earning an annual salary of more than $2,500	1% of salary
For offices in which compensation is paid in fees	$10

For independent, indigent, and non-qualified party candidates

See statutes: Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 501 of the Montana Code Annotated 2013

In order to qualify for placement on the general election ballot, a candidate must file an "Independent, Minor Party, or Indigent Candidate Declaration, Oath of Candidacy, and Petition for Nomination." Independent and non-qualified party candidates are liable for the same filing fees as qualified party candidates (see table above). Indigent candidates (i.e., those who do not have the resources to pay the filing fees) are not required to pay the statutory filing fees and may have their names placed on the ballot via the petition process only.

Nominating petitions must be signed by electors residing within the state and district or political subdivision in which the official is to be elected. Valid signatures must total at least 5 percent of the total votes cast at the last general election for the successful candidate for the office being sought.

For write-in candidates

In order to have his or her votes counted, a write-in candidate must submit to the Montana Secretary of State a "Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy" and pay the requisite filing fees (noted above).

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

See statutes: Title 13 of the Montana Code

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Montana.

Format requirements

The form of petitions is prescribed by the Montana Secretary of State. The secretary of state is required by state law to furnish sample copies to election administrators and to any individual on request.

Signature requirements

Each sheet of a petition must contain signatures of electors residing in only one county.

Circulation requirements

Affidavits of circulation must be attached to each petition sheet or section submitted to a county election administrator. These affidavits must include substantially the following text: "I, (name of person who is the signature gatherer), swear that I gathered the signatures on the petition to which this affidavit is attached on the stated dates, that I believe the signatures on the petition are genuine, are the signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be, and are the signatures of Montana electors who are registered at the address or have the telephone number following the person's signature, and that the signers knew the contents of the petition before signing the petition." Affidavits of circulation must also note the date on which the first signature was collected and address of the circulator. The affidavits must also be notarized.

The statutes do not specify circulator requirements (e.g., residency status).

Montana permits candidates and aspirant political parties to begin circulating petitions as early as they wish, and candidates and parties may submit these petitions to county election administrators at any time. Candidate declaration forms, however, cannot be filed with the appropriate filing officer prior to a specified deadline.

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Montana can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Montana county election administrators

Click here for a list

Montana Secretary of State, Elections Division

Montana State Capitol, Room 260

P.O. Box 202801

1301 E 6th Avenue

Helena, Montana 59620

Phone: 406-444-9608

Email: soselections@mt.gov

Website: http://sos.mt.gov/elections/

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices

1209 8th Ave

P.O. Box 202401

Helena, Montana 59620-2401

Phone: 406-444-2942

Fax: 406-444-1643

Email: cpphelp@mt.gov

Website: https://politicalpractices.mt.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

State executive term limits are established in Article 4, Section 8, of the Montana Constitution. The state executive term limits in Montana are as follows:

• The governor may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.
• The lieutenant governor may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.
• The secretary of state may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.
• The attorney general may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.
• The Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Montana state legislators may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.

Term limits were imposed on state legislators by a constitutional amendment approved by the state's electorate in 1992.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Montana and List of United States Senators from Montana

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Montana.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Montana
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	0	0
Republican	2	2	4
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	2	4

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Montana.

Montana State Senate

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	18
	Republican Party	32
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

Montana House of Representatives

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	42
	Republican Party	58
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		100

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Montana. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: September 26, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: September 19, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: September 12, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: September 5, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: August 29, 2025

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Montana
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Montana
• Montana elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Montana
• Counties in Montana
• List of United States Representatives from Montana
• List of United States Senators from Montana
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Montana Secretary of State
• Federal Election Commission
• Montana Secretary of State, "Candidate Information"
• Montana Secretary of State, "2024 Candidate Calendar"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

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