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Elections

2026 Elections

 
May 5, 2026 School/Special District Election

The Elections Office administers school and special district elections annually on the same day.

School district trustees are elected for a term of three years or the remainder of vacant terms. The board of trustees authorizes additional taxation, the issuance of bonds or any other proposition presented to voters in accordance with the law. Note that some school districts cross county boundaries.

School Election Important Dates/Deadlines:

 

Special district trustees are elected board members who serve residents of a specific tax district, such as fire, public hospital, water, sewer, irrigation or conservation districts listed on a property owner’s tax bill. They are only elected to full terms. These districts operate in accordance with state laws.

Other ballot initiatives could potentially be on this ballot.

This will be an all-mail election and polling places will not be open. It is possible that not all residents will receive a ballot or be eligible to vote in this election. This will depend on where a voter lives and whether there will be elections in their specific jurisdictions. 

Special District Important Dates/Deadlines:

 
June 2, 2026 Federal Primary Election

A federal primary election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. Primary federal elections are preliminary elections to select the candidates who will advance onto the general federal election in November. Presidential elections are combined with the congressional, statewide, state district and county elections.

Montana state law does not require voters to designate their party affiliation when registering to vote, so all voters will receive ballots for each party running a primary election. Voters choose only one ballot to vote. Ballots will mail to absentee voters and polling places will be open.

  • Candidate filing opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17
  • Candidate filing closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4
  • The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the primary election is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.
  • Visit our Candidate Filing page for additional details on how to run for office.
 
November 3, 2026 Federal General Election

A federal general election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Ballots will mail to absentee voters and polling places will be open.

Secretary of State’s detailed federal election calendar.

 
New Law Birth Year


The 2025 legislature passed House Bill 719, which requires voters to write their year of birth on the affirmation envelope in addition to their signature. This bill went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. A ballot will be rejected if it does not include both a signature and birth year.

Return Postage

Missoula County offers pre-paid postage on all mail ballots. Voted ballots may also be returned in person at the Elections Office at 140 N. Russell St.