HELENA – Election officials around Montana began mailing absentee ballots to voters Friday.
In Lewis and Clark County, about 27,200 ballots were loaded onto a truck and taken to a Helena post office to be sent out.
Audrey McCue, Lewis and Clark County’s elections supervisor, said the county elections office has sent out absentee ballots to all voters whose requests they processed by Friday. If someone sent in a request recently or took part in a voter registration drive, the office may send their ballot in the coming days.
McCue said most voters in the Helena area should see their ballot in the mail within one to three days of when it is sent out. For those receiving an absentee ballot out-of-state, it could take five to seven days.
“Our local post office works really hard to get the ballots turned around as quickly as possible,” McCue said.
She said, if voters haven’t seen their absentee ballots by the end of next week, they should contact the elections office.
Voters who are already registered can still request an absentee ballot until noon on Nov. 5, though McCue recommends requesting it in person at the county elections office within a week of the election.
People who haven’t registered yet can go to the elections office in person through Election Day for late registration.
All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.
McCue said officials have seen a growing number of voters choosing to receive mail ballots in recent years.
Reported by Jonathon Ambarian
