Absent Military and Overseas Electors

• Federal Post Card Application form
• Definitions, Laws, and Rules
• How to Register to Vote and Request Absentee Ballots
• How to Vote
• How to Update Your Mailing Address When You Return Home
• Sources of Information and Forms

How to Register to Vote and Request Absentee Ballots

Registering to vote and requesting absentee ballots in Montana is easy for United States electors.  The best form to use to do so is the Federal Post Card Application form.  This form is used both for voter registration and to request absentee ballots for all the state and local elections in the calendar year in which it is requested and the following two federal elections.  You can find it by doing the following:

• Print a Federal Post Card Application form, fill out and mail it to the local election office.
  
  
• Visit your local election office on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and complete a Federal Post Card Application form.
  
  
• Another source of information is the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which has forms and tips on registration and voting, including information about options for voting by facsimile and through the Internet.  You can also reach the FVAP at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683).

How to Vote

As soon as you are able to do so, return your voted ballot by mail in the envelope provided by your county election administrator.

Also, election administrators in certain counties allow voters to receive ballots by fax and to return them by fax.

In certain counties, you may also have the option to vote by email. Contact your local election office to find out whether your county allows fax and email options.

Some United States electors return to their Montana residence too late to register at the time when, and place where, registration is required.  These electors are entitled to register for the purpose of voting at the next election after the date of their return up to noon on the day before the election, and to cast a vote in the election. They may also vote under the provisions of late registration, up to and including on election day (except from noon to 5:00 on the Monday preceding the election).

For United States electors, a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot sent by 8:00 p.m. election day is valid as long as it is received in the election office by the Monday after election day.

How to Update Your Mailing Address When You Return Home

If you have returned home from being stationed outside of your county of residence and have an outdated mailing address on file with the local election office, you will need to update your mailing address.  The quickest way to do this is to fill out a registration form and send it in to your local election office.  Just list your new mailing address on the form, and that way you won’t have to worry about ballots being sent to your old mailing address.  If you want to directly ensure that your county election administrator removes your name and old mailing address from the list of absent military or overseas voters who will automatically received absentee ballots, you can also send this optional request for cancellation of automatic out of county absentee ballot mailings to your local election office.

Toll-free Voter Hotline: 1-888-884-VOTE (8683)

Voter Resources
Voter Information | Absent Military or Overseas
Ballot Technology  | Voter Turnout History | Official Election Results

Election Resources
Candidate Information | Election Calendar | Ballot Issues
Centralized Voter File | Political Parties | Term Limits
File for Office

HAVA | Citizen Involvement

Elections and Government Services Division • P.O. Box 202801 • Helena, MT 59620-2801
State Capitol, Room 260 • 1301 6th Avenue • Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-4732 • soselections@mt.gov • Fax (406) 444-2023

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