Ballots Mail Today for Upcoming School, Special District Elections

Posted on April 15, 2026

The Missoula County Elections Office will mail approximately 75,360 ballots on Wednesday, April 15, for the upcoming school and special district elections on Tuesday, May 5. This is a mail-only election, and polling places will not be open on Election Day.

This is a countywide election, and all active and provisionally registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail. The ballot issues and candidates on the ballots are specific to the district of the voter’s residential address. Voters are encouraged to view sample ballots and verify their voter registration status at myvoterpagemt.com.

“We’d like to remind voters that there’s a tight turnaround from when you receive your ballot to when it’s due back to the Elections Center,” said Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman. “Make an educated decision and then plan to return your ballot early by mail using the prepaid envelope, or hand-deliver it to one of the many drop locations that will be open on Election Day around the county.”

Voters must write their birth year and signature on their mail ballot envelope before mailing it or returning it to the Elections Office. Failure to provide either detail will result in the rejection of the ballot. Ballots must be received by the Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. Return postage is prepaid; no stamp is needed. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing ballots no later than Tuesday, April 28. Postmarked dates are not sufficient.

After April 28, voters should hand-deliver their ballots to the Elections Office (Building B) before Election Day. Voters who wait until Election Day can drop off their ballots at one of eight locations around the county that will be open on Election Day only. These ballot drop-off locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. A full list of locations is available at missoula.co/currentelection and is printed on the mail-ballot instructions included in your ballot packet. Per state law, unmanned ballot drop boxes are prohibited during mail-only elections.

School and special district elections are held annually and administered by the Missoula County Elections Office. This year, the following districts are holding elections, which include funding levies and board member positions:

• Missoula County Public School District No. 1 (high school and elementary fund levy)
  • drive-thru ballot drop-off on South Russell between the Fairgrounds and YMCA
• Hellgate School District No. 4 (trustee)
  • drive-thru ballot drop at the baseball field parking lot, 2385 Flynn Lane, Missoula
• Lolo School District No. 7 (general fund levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the school, 5305 Farm Lane, Lolo
• Potomac School District No. 11 (general fund levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the community center, 29827 Potomac Road, Potomac
• Bonner School District No. 14 (general fund and safety levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the school, 9045 Hwy. 200, Bonner
• Seeley Lake Elementary District No. 34 (general fund levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the school, 200 School Lane, Seeley Lake
• Frenchtown School District No. 40 (general fund levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the Frenchtown Fire Station, 16875 Marion St., Frenchtown
• East Missoula Rural Fire District (fire services levy)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the East Missoula Fire Station, 300 Montana Ave, East Missoula
• Seeley Lake Sewer District (trustee election)
  • inside ballot drop-off at the school, 200 School Lane, Seeley Lake

School district trustees are elected for three-year terms or the remainder of vacant terms. Special district trustees are elected board members who serve residents of specific tax districts, such as fire, public hospital or irrigation districts listed on a property owner’s tax bill. Sample ballots are available at missoula.co/currentelection.

The Elections Office reminds residents that regular, or by-mail voter registration is closed. All changes to voter registration for this election must be made in person at the Elections Office – Building B at 140 N. Russell St. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Registration closes at noon on Monday, May 4, and resumes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Visit missoulavotes.gov for more information or contact the Elections Office at 406-258-4751. Preliminary results will be posted to missoulavotes.gov after 8 p.m. on election night.

Categories: elections