Late Registration Voting Process

Not all states have the option to register to vote after the 30-day deadline before an election. In fact, only ten states and the District of Columbia have a form of late registration in place Montana is one of those ten states!

Thirty-days before an election, there is a deadline to register to vote which is known as “close of voter registration.” In some states, if you miss this deadline, you could potentially miss your opportunity to participate in that election. In Montana, voters are fortunate to have Late and Same Day Voter Registration. The 29^th  day before an election kicks of late registration. Within that 29 day window, voters are able to register to vote, update their information and receive an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot essentially means you’re absent from the polls. Since 1999, Montana voters do not have to list a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Prior to that, an absentee ballot was only issued if you were out of town or ill and could not make it to your polling place.

Voters who have moved within Missoula County or Montana, changed their last name, are a new registrant, or any other changes in voter information are eligible for late registration. The voter simply provides either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number for verification. The voter’s information is then entered into the voter database and their information is affirmed by them signing a voter registration card, swearing that all of the provided information is true and correct. The final step is the voter receives voting instructions and a ballot. Late registrants may only deposit their ballot at designated election offices, such as the Missoula County Courthouse or Elections Center, located at the Western Montana Fairgrounds. 

On Election Day, late registration transitions into same day voter registration. The same processes in late registration applies with same day registration. The one difference is that some voters are required to vote a provisional ballot. Voters who move within Missoula County, or from another county must vote provisional to ensure only one vote is counted. This is a safeguard in case a voter cast a ballot in their old precinct, which is rarely found. Provisional ballots are counted the Monday following the election. This provides sufficient time to check the precinct register or previous county of that voter to ensure another ballot was not counted. A voter who is new to the voter database casts a regular ballot on Election Day.

Finally, the 29 days before an election, the Election Office sees very little wait times or lines. However, on Election Day, lines do happen with same day voter registration. The registration process on Election Day can take 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on that voter’s situation. Take this time and multiply it by the number of voters who appear, and lines are inevitable. In 2012, the Elections Office experienced 3.5 hour wait times for same day registration. We have changed our processes and procedures to combat wait times. This was proven in November of 2014 with only 30 minute wait times but the possibility of lines still remains. The highest voter turnout for an election is during presidential years. The Missoula County Elections Office is projecting anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 voters to appear for same day registration in November of 2016. We urge voters to take advantage of the 29 days before an election and not wait until Election Day. We don’t want lines as much as the voter wants to wait in one. As the modified, old saying goes: “vote early and in every election!”