Gallatin Valley Voting Guide: Dates, Deadlines and Where to Return Your Ballot
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Here’s what Gallatin County voters need to know before heading to the polls or returning an absentee ballot.
Check your voter information
- Visit Montana’s Voter Portal to confirm your registration, check your address, find your assigned polling place, preview your sample ballot and track your absentee ballot.
- Your polling location depends on your precinct—not simply which town you live in.
Still need to register or update your address?
- Late registration and registration changes require an in-person visit.
- Gallatin County Elections Office: 311 W. Main St., Room 210, inside the Bozeman courthouse. Open weekdays through October 30, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- MSU satellite election office: Strand Union Building, Fireplace Room, 751 W. Grant St., Bozeman. Services are available through October 30, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Monday, November 2: Registration services run 8 a.m.–noon at the courthouse and 9 a.m.–noon at MSU.
- Election Day, November 3: Both locations offer registration services 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Earlier satellite-office dates in Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, Big Sky and West Yellowstone have ended.
- Check Gallatin County Elections for updates.
Where can you return your absentee ballot now?
- Bring completed ballots to the courthouse Elections Office or MSU’s SUB Fireplace Room during the hours above.
- For November 2 ballot-return availability after noon, call 406-582-3060. The noon registration cutoff should not be confused with the final ballot-return deadline.
Absentee ballot deadlines and instructions
- Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 3. A postmark alone does not count.
- Montana’s guidance recommends mailing ballots at least 1 week before Election Day—October 27 for this election. After that, hand-delivery avoids postal delays.
- Follow your ballot packet’s instructions. Mark your choices with blue or black ink, put the ballot in its secrecy envelope, and place that inside the return envelope.
- Sign and date the return envelope, then seal it.
- Lost your ballot or made a mistake? Contact the Elections Office for a replacement.
- After returning it, use the voter portal to confirm acceptance. Contact the county promptly about any signature or rejection issue.
Election Day ballot drop-off locations
Completed Gallatin County absentee ballots may be returned at any county polling location on November 3, from 7 a.m.–8 p.m., even if it is not your assigned precinct:
- Bozeman: Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Tamarack Street and Black Avenue.
- Bozeman: Hope Lutheran Church gym, 2152 W. Graf St.
- MSU: Student Wellness Center, 950 W. Grant St.
- Bridger Canyon: Bridger Canyon Fire Station, 8081 Bridger Canyon Road.
- Four Corners: Zoot Enterprises, 555 Zoot Enterprises Lane.
- Belgrade: Belgrade Special Events Center, 220 Spooner Road.
- River Rock: River Rock Community Center, 101 River Rock Road.
- Manhattan: Manhattan High School, 200 W. Fulton Ave.
- Churchill: Manhattan Christian School, 8000 Churchill Road.
- Three Forks: Three Forks High School, 212 E. Neal St.
- Gallatin Gateway: Community Center, 145 Mill St.
- Big Sky: BASE Community Center, 285 Simkins Drive.
- West Yellowstone: Povah Community Center, 10 Geyser St.
- The courthouse Elections Office and MSU’s SUB Fireplace Room also offer Election Day services 7 a.m.–8 p.m. The SUB and Student Wellness Center are separate locations.
- View the official county polling-place list.
Voting in person
- Go to your assigned polling place, open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., stay in line.
- Bring acceptable, current photo identification. Options include a valid driver’s license, Montana state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, tribal photo ID, Montana concealed-carry permit or qualifying Montana university photo ID.
- Review the complete identification requirements, including alternatives. If you lack acceptable identification, ask election officials about provisional voting.
Need assistance?
- Call Gallatin County Elections at 406-582-3060 for registration questions, replacement ballots, accessibility assistance or ballot-return information.
- Big Sky residents in Madison County should follow their own county’s instructions; this guide covers Gallatin County ballots.
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