Ballots for school and special district elections across Montana are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, with millions of dollars at stake for multiple school districts facing tight budgets.
Depending on where they live, Montana voters will weigh in on school and fire levies, and on school board and special district positions.
It’s a mail-only election, but it’s too late to return ballots by mail. Voters can turn in their ballots in person at their local election office until 8 p.m. Tuesday and can track the status of their ballot at myvoterpagemt.com.
Voters must include their birth year on the ballot return envelope for it to be counted. A new state law that went into effect last October requires voters to include their birth year on the envelope next to their signature. During last year’s municipal election, more than 2,700 ballots were rejected in Montana’s six largest cities because of the requirement.
Residents can register to vote in person on Election Day. To register, residents must provide either their Montana driver’s license, Montana ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. A valid school or tribal photo ID is also acceptable. More information on ID requirements is available online.
Many Montana school districts are requesting levies to help pay for general operations or for specific technology or safety costs.
The state’s funding formula sets the school district’s general fund maximum budget, largely based on enrollment. The state supports 80%, while the district is responsible for generating the remaining 20% through measures such as operational levies.
Billings Public Schools is asking for a $2.5 million elementary school operational levy and a $2.7 million high school levy. Superintendent Erwin Garcia told Montana Free Press last month that the funding would help the district replace decades-old intercom systems and install new visual monitors and attract and retain qualified teachers and staff.
The Helena Public School District is requesting a $935,618 elementary operational levy, a $1.6 million elementary technology levy and a $850,000 high school technology levy. The technology levies would last 10 years, and if passed, would go toward paying for existing technology infrastructure, equipment replacements and maintaining software licensing and security and network systems, according to the district.
Missoula voters will decide on a $1.35 million elementary school levy and a $1.13 million high school levy. The money would help cover salaries and other rising costs amid declining enrollment, district officials said previously.
MTFP will report election results for Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula Wednesday. Residents can check their county election office website for results after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
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