Election Protection
Everything you need to know about free and fair elections in Gallatin County.
Election rules and voting conditions can change—and not every alarming headline actually affects you. Election Protection Watch keeps an eye on developments that could impact Gallatin County voters and lets you know when there’s something worth paying attention to.
We’ll separate confirmed changes from developing concerns, explain what they mean locally, and most importantly, tell you whether you need to do anything.
We’ll also send timely reminders about important voting dates and actions so you can stay informed, prepared, and ready to vote.
Make sure your vote counts!
Resident of Gallatin County? Here’s your voter to-do list.
Voting shouldn’t be complicated. A little preparation now can prevent problems later. Take these three steps before Election Day so you know you’re registered, know exactly how you’ll vote, and know where to look if something changes.
Election information can change. Please verify information against official state and county sources.
Check your voter registration
Even if you’ve voted before, check your registration now.
This is especially important if you:
are registering for the first time;
recently turned 18;
recently moved to Gallatin County or changed addresses;
changed your name;
haven’t voted in a while; or
simply haven’t checked your voter record recently.
Montana election officials regularly maintain voter registration lists, including active and inactive registrations. Checking your record ahead of time gives you time to correct an outdated address, inactive status, missing registration, or other problem before you’re trying to cast your ballot.
Check your registration
Use Montana’s My Voter Page to confirm:
✓ You are registered
✓ Your name and address are correct
✓ Your registration status is active
✓ Whether you are registered to receive an absentee ballot
Not registered—or something isn’t right?
You can register to vote or update your voter registration through the Gallatin County Elections Department.
Montana offers two ways to register:
By mail – Fill out the Montana Voter Registration Application, sign it, and mail it to your county election office. It must be postmarked at least 30 days before the election, October 5, 2026.
In person – Go to your county election office at Gallatin County Courthouse
311 W. Main St. Room 210
Bozeman, MT 59715.
REGISTRATION DATES for the November 3, 2026 General Election:
October 5 at 5:00 p.m. — Regular voter registration closes (in-person or postmarked).
Beginning October 6 — Late registration is available, but you must register or update your registration in person.
Election Day, November 3 — Eligible Gallatin County residents can still register and vote in person. Don’t wait until Election Day if you can avoid it; taking care of registration early makes voting much easier.
Already registered? Great. Put a reminder on your calendar to check your registration once more before November 3!
Make your voting plan
Don’t leave the logistics of voting until Election Day.
Deciding how, when, and where you’ll vote ahead of time makes it much less likely that a busy schedule, forgotten ballot, transportation problem, long line, or last-minute surprise will keep you from voting.
First: How will you vote?
If you’re voting by mail/absentee:
☐ Confirm that your voter record shows you will receive an absentee ballot.
☐ Confirm that the mailing address on your voter record is correct.
☐ Know when to expect it. Gallatin County will begin mailing absentee ballots for the November election on October 9, 2026.
☐ Decide when you’ll complete your ballot. Give yourself time to research candidates and ballot issues rather than waiting until the deadline.
☐ Carefully follow the instructions included with your ballot.
☐ Sign the return envelope and provide your birth year. Montana now requires both. Missing your birth year can cause your ballot to be rejected unless the problem is corrected in time.
☐ Decide how you’ll return it—by mail or at an authorized ballot drop-off location.
☐ Remember: postmarked isn’t enough. Your ballot must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. If Election Day is approaching, consider returning it in person rather than relying on mail delivery.
☐ After returning it, track your ballot through My Voter Page to make sure it was received and accepted.
If you’re voting in person:
☐ Look up your polling place before Election Day (find it on the registration check website).
☐ Check the hours. Gallatin County polling places will be open 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on November 3.
☐ Decide when you plan to vote. Put it on your calendar.
☐ Make a transportation plan if you need one.
☐ Check current voter identification requirements and decide what you’ll bring.
☐ Review your sample ballot ahead of time so you know what races and ballot questions you’ll encounter.
☐ Know where to get help if you encounter a problem while trying to vote.
And don’t forget the ballot itself.
Your voting plan isn’t only about getting a ballot into your hands. Give yourself time to decide what you’ll do with it.
Look at your sample ballot in advance. Research the candidates, ballot initiatives, judges, and local races you may not recognize. Save trustworthy voter guides or other resources you want to consult.
Election Day is not the ideal time to discover what’s on your ballot.
Stay informed
Normally, preparing to vote might be something you do once and cross off your list.
This year, keep paying attention.
Election rules, court decisions, legislation, administrative actions, and other developments can affect how elections are conducted. Some developments may never affect Montana voters at all. Others could change deadlines, requirements, procedures, or what voters need to know.
That doesn’t mean you need to follow every headline or become an election-law expert.
It means you need one reliable way to find out when something actually affects you.
Bookmark trusted election information from the Gallatin County Elections Department, and check it again as voting approaches.
Or let us keep watch ⬇️.
ELECTION PROTECTION WATCH
Indivisible Bozeman is monitoring election developments and separating things voters need to know from rumors, speculation, and noise.
Sign up for Election Protection Watch and we’ll email you when there is a significant development that could affect Gallatin County voters—including what happened, what it means, and what, if anything, you need to do.
No panic. No rumor mill. Just information you need to protect your vote.
[SIGN UP FOR ELECTION PROTECTION WATCH →]
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