Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Montana

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Montana, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Montana. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Montana." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Montana in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Montana U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/11/2024 Source
Montana U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 12,694 5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 6/3/2024 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Montana U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740.00 3/11/2024 Source
Montana U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of total votes cast for the last successful candidate $1,740.00 6/3/2024 Source


For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Montana U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740.00 3/14/2022 Source
Montana U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of total votes cast for the last successful candidate $1,740.00 6/6/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Montana in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Montana U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/9/2020 Source
Montana U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 12,694 5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 6/1/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Montana in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Montana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Montana 1st Congressional District Major party 0 N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary N/A Source
Montana 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 25,221 5% of all votes cast for this office in the last general election $1,740.00 1% of annual salary N/A Source
Montana At-large District Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 Percentage of annual salary 3/9/2020 Source
Montana At-large District Unaffiliated 12,833 5% of total votes cast for successful candidate in the last general election N/A N/A 6/1/2020 Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Montana House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Montana House of Representatives Qualified party N/A $15.00 3/9/2020 Source
Montana House of Representatives Unaffiliated 5% of votes cast for the last successful candidate for the office $15.00 6/1/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Montana State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Montana State Senate Qualified party N/A $15.00 3/9/2020 Source
Montana State Senate Unaffiliated 5% of votes cast for the last successful candidate for the office $15.00 6/1/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Montana elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 12, 2018

2016

See also: Montana elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Montana in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
March 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering January 1 through February 25)–statewide candidates only
March 14, 2016 Ballot access Filing deadline for primary candidates
April 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering February 26 through March 27)–statewide candidates only
May 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering March 28 through April 26)–statewide candidates only
May 3, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering beginning of campaign through April 28)–state district candidates only
May 23, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering April 27 through May 18)–statewide candidates only
May 26, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering April 29 through May 21)–state district candidates only
May 31, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for independent, minor party and indigent candidates to submit petitions to county election officials
June 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering May 19 through May 27)–statewide candidates only
June 6, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for independent, minor party and indigent candidates to submit declarations and filing fees to the necessary filing official
June 7, 2016 Election date Primary election
June 27, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering May 28 through June 22)–statewide candidates only
June 27, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering May 22 through June 22)–state district candidates only
July 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering June 23 through June 26)–statewide candidates only
August 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering June 27 through July 27)–statewide candidates only
September 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering July 28 through August 27)–statewide candidates only
October 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering August 28 through September 26)–statewide candidates only
October 4, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering June 23 through September 29)–state district candidates only
October 24, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering September 27 through October 19)–statewide candidates only
October 27, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering September 30 through October 22)–state district candidates only
November 1, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering October 20 through October 27)–statewide candidates only
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
November 28, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering October 28 through November 23)–statewide candidates only
November 28, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due (covering October 23 through November 23)–state district candidates only
Source: Montana Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed June 12, 2015
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, "Statewide Candidates: Candidate Finance Report Calendar: 2015-2016," accessed October 28, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

For qualified party candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 201 of the Montana Code Annotated 2013

In order to qualify for placement on the primary ballot, a candidate for the nomination of a recognized political party must file a declaration of nomination and pay the required filing fees. The declaration must include an oath of candidacy, which the candidate is required to sign to affirm that, under the state constitution and applicable federal and state laws, he or she is qualified to hold the office being sought. This paperwork must be filed with the Montana Secretary of State if the office being sought is a congressional seat, a state or district office voted for in more than one county, or a state legislative seat.[3][4]

Filing fees are established in Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 202, of the Montana Code Annotated 2013. These fees are summarized in the table below.[5]

Filing fees
Office sought How the fee is determined
For offices earning an annual salary of $2,500 or less and members of the state legislature $15
For offices (except county-level) earning an annual salary of more than $2,500 1% of salary
For offices in which compensation is paid in fees $10

For independent, indigent, and non-qualified party candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 501 of the Montana Code Annotated 2013

In order to qualify for placement on the general election ballot, a candidate must file an "Independent, Minor Party, or Indigent Candidate Declaration, Oath of Candidacy, and Petition for Nomination." Independent and non-qualified party candidates are liable for the same filing fees as qualified party candidates (see table above). Indigent candidates (i.e., those who do not have the resources to pay the filing fees) are not required to pay the statutory filing fees and may have their names placed on the ballot via the petition process only.[6][7]

Nominating petitions must be signed by electors residing within the state and district or political subdivision in which the official is to be elected. Valid signatures must total at least 5 percent of the total votes cast at the last general election for the successful candidate for the office being sought.[8]

For write-in candidates

In order to have his or her votes counted, a write-in candidate must submit to the Montana Secretary of State a "Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy" and pay the requisite filing fees (noted above).[9]

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 13 of the Montana Code

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Montana.

Format requirements

The form of petitions is prescribed by the Montana Secretary of State. The secretary of state is required by state law to furnish sample copies to election administrators and to any individual on request.[10][11]

Signature requirements

Each sheet of a petition must contain signatures of electors residing in only one county.[12][11]

Circulation requirements

Affidavits of circulation must be attached to each petition sheet or section submitted to a county election administrator. These affidavits must include substantially the following text: "I, (name of person who is the signature gatherer), swear that I gathered the signatures on the petition to which this affidavit is attached on the stated dates, that I believe the signatures on the petition are genuine, are the signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be, and are the signatures of Montana electors who are registered at the address or have the telephone number following the person's signature, and that the signers knew the contents of the petition before signing the petition." Affidavits of circulation must also note the date on which the first signature was collected and address of the circulator. The affidavits must also be notarized.[13]

The statutes do not specify circulator requirements (e.g., residency status).

Montana permits candidates and aspirant political parties to begin circulating petitions as early as they wish, and candidates and parties may submit these petitions to county election administrators at any time. Candidate declaration forms, however, cannot be filed with the appropriate filing officer prior to a specified deadline.[14][15]

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Montana Secretary of State

Physical address: State Capitol, Room 260, 1301 6th Avenue, Helena, Montana 59620
Mailing address: P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana 59620-2801
Telephone: 406-444-4732
Fax: 406-444-2023
Email: soselections@mt.gov
Website: http://sos.mt.gov/
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Term limits

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

State executive term limits are established in Article 4, Section 8, of the Montana Constitution. The state executive term limits in Montana are as follows:[16]

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Montana state legislators may serve no more than eight years in a 16-year period.[16]

Term limits were imposed on state legislators by a constitutional amendment approved by the state's electorate in 1992.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Montana and List of United States Senators from Montana

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Montana.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Montana
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 1 0 1
Republican 1 2 3
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 2 4

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Montana.

Montana State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 16
     Republican Party 34
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 50

Montana House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 32
     Republican Party 68
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 100

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Montana. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Office of the Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Political Party Qualification," updated December 27, 2013
  2. ↑ Office of the Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Independent, Minor Party and Indigent Candidates," updated September 18, 2013
  3. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Major Party Candidates," accessed January 7, 2014
  4. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 201," accessed January 7, 2014
  5. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 202," accessed January 7, 2014
  6. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Independent, Minor Party and Indigent Candidates," accessed January 7, 2014
  7. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 501," accessed January 7, 2014
  8. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 502," accessed January 7, 2014
  9. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Write-in Candidates," accessed January 7, 2014
  10. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 501," accessed January 7, 2014
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 601," accessed January 7, 2014
  12. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 10, Section 502," accessed January 7, 2014
  13. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2013, "Title 13, Chapter 27, Section 302," accessed January 7, 2014
  14. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Independent, Minor Party and Indigent Candidates," accessed January 7, 2014
  15. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Information for Political Party Qualification," accessed January 7, 2014
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Montana Constitution, "Article IV, Section 8," accessed November 14, 2013
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