Montana: Do you need an ID to vote?
Montana asks in-person voters for photo ID. Without it, a voter casts a provisional ballot, which the statute counts when the signature matches.
Voters show a listed photo ID, such as a Montana license, tribal ID or passport. Another option is any photo ID showing their name plus a current bill, bank statement or government document showing their address. A voter without these casts a provisional ballot. The law lets the voter bring ID by 5 p.m. the day after the election. It also has officials compare signatures, and a matching ballot goes on to be counted. A 2025 law rewrote these rules. A court declined to block it in May 2026, and the lawsuit continues.
Conditions
- Provisional ballot if no ID; ID may be provided by 5 p.m. the day after the election
What the law says
Before an elector is permitted to receive a ballot or vote, the elector shall present to an election judge one of the following forms of identification showing the elector's name that is current, valid, and readable: [...] (ii) (A) a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address; and (B) photo identification that shows the elector's name. [...] (a) the elector has until 5 p.m. on the day after the election to provide identification information pursuant to the requirements of 13-13-114; and (b) the election administrator shall compare the signature [...] If the signatures match, the election administrator shall handle the ballot as provided in subsection (5).
Sources
- MCA 13-13-114 (2025) Official · mca.legmt.gov
- MCA 13-15-107 (2025) Official · mca.legmt.gov
- The Western News, court ruling on Montana voter ID and registration laws (May 15, 2026) Secondary · thewesternnews.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Montana Secretary of State, Elections and Voter Services
- Website
- sosmt.gov
How bordering states compare
- Idaho Photo ID requestedIdaho asks voters for a photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an affidavit at the polls and vote a regular ballot.
- North Dakota ID required, non-photo acceptedNorth Dakota requires voters to show an ID with name, North Dakota address and birth date. The accepted IDs include some without photos.
- South Dakota Photo ID requestedSouth Dakota asks voters for photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an identity affidavit and vote a regular ballot.
- Wyoming ID required, non-photo acceptedWyoming requires ID to vote in person; the list includes non-photo Medicare and Medicaid cards through 2029.