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Ballots Mail Countywide; New State Law Impacts Envelope Requirements

Posted on October 15, 2025

New Law Birth Year

The Missoula County Elections Office has mailed approximately 77,833 ballots for the Nov. 4 municipal general election to all active and provisionally registered voters in the City of Missoula and Missoula County. Voters must return their ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks are not sufficient. 

This is an all-mail election for Missoula mayor, City Council wards 1 through 6, municipal judge districts 1, 2 and 3, and a countywide infrastructure mill levy. Registered voters who live outside city limits will only have the mill levy on their ballots. Information about the levy is available at missoulacountyvoice.com. Sample ballots and list of candidates can be viewed at missoulavotes.com. 

While ballots were originally scheduled to go out Thursday, Oct. 16, the post office was able to get them sent out a day earlier, so some voters may receive them as soon as Wednesday, Oct. 15.  

Voters will notice a difference in their affirmation envelopes since the primary election in September. Due to changes in Montana law that went into effect on Oct. 1, voters are now required to write both their birth year and signature on the affirmation envelope. A ballot will be rejected if it does not include both the voter’s signature and birth year. For any questions or feedback regarding these statewide changes, voters should contact the Secretary of State’s Office at [email protected] or 406-444-9608. 

Return postage for ballots is prepaid, and voters also can drop off their ballots at the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St. in Missoula during regular business hours leading up to the election. Polling places will not be open on Election Day, and state law prohibits unattended after-hours ballot drop boxes during mail-only elections.  

Residents who still need to register to vote or make changes to their registration can do so until noon Monday, Nov. 3, at the Elections Center. All voter services will be provided in Building B. Election Day voter registration will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be served.  

“When you get your ballot, make an informed decision and return it in your postage paid envelope at least one week prior to the election,” said Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman. “If you missed the mail and still need to return your ballot on Election Day, we will have multiple ballot drop-off locations available for your convenience, including drive-thrus at South Russell Street by the YMCA, McCormick Park and a new location at the Hellgate Elementary baseball fields.” 

From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day only, there will be three drive-thru ballot drop-off locations and four drop-off locations inside community buildings: 

Drive-thru drop-off locations:

  • Hellgate Elementary baseball fields: 2385 Flynn Lane, just north of the school campus 
  • McCormick Park: 600 Cregg Lane, Missoula 
  • South Russell Street, between the YMCA and Fairgrounds 

Other drop-off locations:

  • Bonner School: 9045 Hwy. 200, Bonner 
  • Frenchtown Rural Fire District: 16875 Marion St., Frenchtown 
  • Lolo School: 5305 Farm Lane, Lolo 
  • Seeley Lake Elementary School: 200 School Lane, Seeley Lake 

Key dates and election resources:  

  • Monday, Oct. 20: If voters have not received their ballot by this date, they should contact the Elections Office. All return postage is paid.  
  • 12 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3: Late registration closes. Residents will not be able register to vote or make changes to their registration until Election Day.  
  • Tuesday, Nov. 4: Election Day. Ballots are due back to the Elections Office by 8 p.m. Late ballots will not be accepted, and postmarks are not sufficient. Voter registration will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • MissoulaVotes.com: Missoula County Elections Office website, a beneficial resource for election questions, the candidate filings list and informational documents.  
  • Find My Ward – missoula.co/findmyward: Residents can see whether their address is in the City limits and find the nearest Election Day drop-off location. 
  • My Voter Page – https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo: Residents can confirm their ballot has been accepted, download a registration form, view sample ballots and verify voter registration status, address and district. 
  • Missoula County Voice – https://missoulacountyvoice.com/: Voters can learn more about the countywide infrastructure mill levy ballot issue.  
  • Additional questions: Voters can contact the Elections Office by calling 406-258-4751 or by emailing [email protected] with additional questions and to verify their ballot has been received.

Categories: elections

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