Announcements & Notices
October 25, 2024
Notice of Method of Counting Ballots -- Post Election Audit -- Canvass:
Absentee ballots for the November 5, 2024, federal, state, and county general election will be removed from their secrecy envelopes starting at 8 am on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Members of the public interested in watching the process should check in at the Elections Office, Room 101, Yellowstone County Courthouse, 217 N 27th Street, Billings.
Votes, including votes cast by absentee ballot, will be counted beginning at 8 am on Monday, November 4, 2024, at the Yellowstone County Courthouse, 217 N 27th St, Billings, as specified in 13-15-201, MCA, by DS 850 Central Scanner and Tabulators and a DS 950 Scanner and Tabulator. Vote counting procedures are open to public observation. Any person observing the procedures of the count must complete and sign an affirmation stating, “I, _____, will not discuss the results of the early counting of votes at any time prior to the closing of the polls on election day,” and is subject to 13-35-241, MCA:
13-35-241. Release of vote tally -- penalty. (1) A person may not make public the results of a vote tally from a precinct until after the polls close as provided in 13-1-106.
(2) (a) A person who knowingly violates subsection (1) shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 2 years or be fined an amount not less than $100,000 and not more than $500,000, or both.
(b) For the purposes of this section "knowingly" has the meaning specified in 45-2-101.
Preliminary results will be posted beginning at 8 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at https://sosmt.gov/elections/results/.
Accepted provisional ballots will be counted and added to the vote totals at 3 pm on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at the Yellowstone County Courthouse, 217 N 27th Street, Billings.
The post-election audit of the November 5, 2024, Federal General Election will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, and Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Yellowstone County Courthouse. Anyone interested in attending should report to the Yellowstone County Election Department, 217 N 27th St., Rm 101.
The canvass of the election will be held at 8am on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in Rm. 3108 of the Stillwater Building, 316 N 26th Street Billings, Montana.
All the above are open to the public. If you are interested in observing any of these processes, please call (406)256-2740.
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October 25, 2024
Notice of Location of Polling Place and Accessibility Designations for Yellowstone County for the November 5, 2024, General Election:
On November 5, 2024, all polling places will be open for voting from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All locations are designated as accessible.
Precinct 1 - Custer School – 304 4th Ave, Custer
Precinct 4 – Broadview Community Center – 13725 5th St, Broadview
Precincts 52 & 53 – Elder Grove School – 1532 S 64th St W, Billings
Precincts 5, 55, 57, 58, 59 – Laurel High School – 203 E 8th St, Laurel
Precincts 2, 3, & 19 – Yellowstone Valley Electric – 150 Cooperative Way, Huntley
Precincts 11, 12, & 13 – Lockwood H.S. Community Room – 1932 US Hwy 87, Billings
Precincts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 – MetraPark Pavilion 308 6th Ave N, Billings
Precinct 35 & 54 – Canyon Creek School – 3139 Duck Creek Rd, Billings
Precincts 15 & 56 - Blue Creek School – 3652 Blue Creek Rd, Billings
Prior to November 5th, the in-person voting location for Yellowstone County is at the Yellowstone County Elections Office located at the Yellowstone County Courthouse, Room 101, 217 N. 27th Street, Billings, Montana. The Courthouse is designated as an accessible location.
Ballots were mailed to active registered voters on the absentee list on October 11, 2024. Voters should place $0.73 postage (or a Forever Stamp) on the return envelope to mail their ballot. Contact the Election Department at (406) 256-2740 if you have questions or believe you are on the absentee list but did not receive a ballot in the mail.
The Yellowstone County Elections Office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Voter registration is required by law to close from 12pm to 5pm on Monday, November 4, 2024. Between noon and the close of business on November 4, 2024, you can complete and submit a voter registration form, but you will need to return to the Yellowstone County Metra Park Pavilion on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. On Election Day, November 5, 2024, voter registration reopens ONLY at the Yellowstone County Metra Park Pavilion located at 308 6th Ave. N. Billings, Montana, with extended hours of 7am to 8pm.
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October 11, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC TESTING OF VOTE COUNTING MACHINES
Pursuant to Montana Code Annotated (13-17-212) and Administrative Rule (44.3.1713), “no more than 30 days prior to an election in which a voting system is used, the election administrator shall publicly test and certify that the system is performing properly.” Please be advised that public testing of the Yellowstone County voting system for the Federal General Election will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., in Room 105 of the Yellowstone County Courthouse.
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20 September 2024
ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAIL DATE
Absentee ballots will be mailed out on October 11 2024. If you are an absentee voter and you do not receive your ballot by October 21, please contact the Elections office for a replacement ballot. If you are unsure if you are an absentee voter or a polling place voter, you may check your voter status at voterportal.mt.gov
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20 September 2024
LATE REGISTRATION
Regular registration ends on October 7th. After October 7th, you must come in person to update your registration and receive a ballot. Until Election Day, late registration is available in the Elections Office of the Yellowstone County Courthouse during regular business hours. On Election Day, late registration is available (only) at Metrapark Pavilion from 7 AM to 8 PM. Please call the office if you have questions.
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6 September 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Yellowstone Co. voters should be aware that numerous organizations and entities are sending out voting information. This information may claim that your voter registration is in a particular status or that you need to fill out additional paperwork. In some instances, these entities have sent out incorrect information to voters, causing more confusion than necessary. To verify the status of your registration, you can check your own registration status at voterportal.mt.gov. This site can tell you if 1) you are an ACTIVE or INACTIVE voter; 2) whether you are registered as an ABSENTEE voter (and therefore prefer to receive your ballot in the mail rather than going to a polling place in person on Election Day); and 3) your residential and mailing address. If you are an INACTIVE voter or any of the other information is INCORRECT, you can update your registration information or become active again by printing out, filling out, signing, and returning a voter registration application. The voter registration application is available at: https://www.yellowstonecountymt.gov/elections/forms/registration.asp
If you cannot print out a voter registration application, you can contact the election office to have one sent to you. The Election Office’s phone number is (406)256-2740.
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11 June 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please be aware that political committees are sending out unsolicited absentee voter applications to Yellowstone County residents. These applications did not originate from the Yellowstone County Elections office. You can check the status of your registration, including whether you are already on the absentee list, online at voterportal.mt.gov – you do not need to complete any additional paperwork to remain on the absentee list if you are already designated as an absentee voter. If you are currently a polling place voter for federal elections and you wish to be on the absentee list, you may find the absentee ballot request form here (https://www.yellowstonecountymt.gov/elections/forms/registration.asp). If you prefer to vote in person at elections with designated polling places, you may also find the form to be removed from the absentee list here (https://www.yellowstonecountymt.gov/elections/forms/registration.asp). If you have any additional questions about the status of your voter registration, you may reach out directly to the Election Office.
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15 May 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Due to an error on the instructions mailed with the federal primary ballots for the Election Office’s phone number, please note that the correct phone number for the Elections Office is (406)256-2740. The physical location to drop off ballots is 217 N. 27th Street in Billings, Room 101, at the Yellowstone County Courthouse.
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11 April 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Yellowstone County does not text any of its registered voters. If you receive a text concerning the status of your voter registration, it has not originated from Yellowstone County or the Elections Office. The Yellowstone County Election Office encourages its voters to be vigilant when it comes to clicking on links received via text message concerning your voter registration. If you need to check the status of your voter registration, please use the official Montana Voter Portal at http://voterportal.mt.govor call the Elections Office directly.
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9 April 2024
NOTICE OF CLOSE OF REGULAR VOTER REGISTRATION AND OPTION FOR LATE REGISTRATION
Notice is hereby given that regular registration for the Federal Primary Election to be held on June 4, 2024, will close at 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2024. After regular registration has closed, late registration will be available at the county election office up to 12:00 p.m. on June 3, 2024. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration form, but you will need to return to the Yellowstone County Metra Park Pavilion on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. On election day, June 4, 2024, late registration will be available only at the Metra Park Pavilion located at 308 6th Ave. N. Billings, MT from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by mail or by appearing at the county election office or, on election day, at Metra Park Pavilion. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration application form and submitting it to the county election office.
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5th day of April 2024
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 20-3-313, MCA, the following school trustee election(s) will not be held for the following districts in Yellowstone County as the number of candidates nominated is less than or equal to the number of positions to be elected.
- Billings Elem. School District #2 SMD #4 – 1 Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Blue Creek School District #3 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Canyon Creek School District #4 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Canyon Creek School District #4 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Custer School District #15 – 1 K-12 Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Elder Grove School District #8 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Elysian School District #23 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Elysian School District #23 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 2 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Laurel School District #7&70 – 2 Elem/HS Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Lockwood School District #26 – 4 K-12 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Morin School District #17 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Huntley Project School District #24 – 2 K-12 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Pioneer School District #41 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Yellowstone Academy District #58 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
IT IS HEREBY DECLARED THAT said school trustee election(s) will not be held and the candidates who filed for the position(s) will be elected by acclamation.
If no one filed for a trustee position, a vacancy is created, and the vacancy must be filled by the remaining trustees pursuant to 20-3-309, MCA.
In addition, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the relevant school districts have cancelled the following levy elections:
- Broadview School District #21J – Elementary General Fund Levy
- Broadview School District #21J – High School General Fund Levy
- Elysian School District #23 – General Fund Levy
- Elysian School District #23 – Bond
- Huntley Project School District #24 – General Fund Levy
- Independent School District #52 – General Fund Levy
- Pioneer School District #41 – General Fund Levy
- Shepherd School District #37 – Elementary General Fund Levy
- Shepherd School District #37 – High School General Fund Levy
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28 March 2024
Notice is hereby given by the Yellowstone County Election Administration that the Annual School Election for Schools Districts No. 2, 3, 4, 7, 7-70, 8, 15, 17, 21J, 23, 24, 26, 37, 41, 52 & 58 will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, by mail ballot. Ballots may be returned to the following locations, at the following times:
Location Prior to Election Day: 217 N 27th Street Room 101, Billings (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Location on Election Day: 217 N 27th Street Room 101, Billings (7:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
Electors will consider the following issues at the election:
- Billings Elem. School District #2 SMD #4 – 1 Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Billings Elem. School District #2 SMD #6 – 1 Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Billings Elem. School District #2 – Building Reserve Safety Levy
- Billings High School District #2 – 1 at-large High School Trustee (A) for 3 yr. Term
- Billings High School District #2 – Building Reserve Safety Levy
- Blue Creek School District #3 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Canyon Creek School District #4 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Canyon Creek School District #4 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Canyon Creek School District #4 – General Fund Levy
- Laurel School District #7&70 – 2 Elem/HS Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Laurel Elementary School District #7&70 – General Fund Levy
- Laurel Elementary School District #7&70 – Building Reserve Fund Levy
- Laurel High School District #7 – General Fund Levy
- Laurel High School District #7 – Building Reserve Fund Levy
- Elder Grove School District #8 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Elder Grove School District #8 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Elder Grove School District #8 – Technology Fund Levy
- Custer School District #15 – 2 K-12 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Custer School District #15 – 1 K-12 Trustee for 1 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Morin School District #17 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Broadview K-12 District #21J – 1 Elem./High School Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Elysian School District #23 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Elysian School District #23 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 2 yr. (Unexpired) Term
- Huntley Project School District #24 – 2 K-12 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Lockwood School District #26 – 4 K-12 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Shepherd School District #37 – 1 Elem./High School Trustee 3 yr. Term
- Pioneer School District #41 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Independent School District #52 – 2 Elem. Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Yellowstone Academy District #58 – 1 Elem. Trustee for 3 yr. Term
A qualified registered elector who will be absent from the district during the time the election is being conducted may: a) vote in person in the election administrator’s office as soon as the ballots are available and until noon the day before the ballots are scheduled to be mailed; b) make a written request, signed by the applicant and addressed to the election administrator, that the ballot be mailed to an address other than the address that appears on the registration card. The election administrator's office is located at:
Physical Address: 217 N 27th Street room 101, Billings
Mailing Address: PO Box 35002, Billing, MT 59107
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21 March 2024
Notice is hereby given by the Yellowstone County Election Administration that the following special purpose district elections scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, have been cancelled.
Pursuant to 13-1-502, MCA, if the num¬ber of candidates in a special purpose district election is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled at the election, the election administrator must cancel the election.
THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DECLARED THAT the following elections will not be held and the candidates who filed for the position have been elected by acclamation by the Yellowstone Board of County Commissioners:
- Broadview Fire Dist. #3 -1 Trustee for 3 yr. Term
- Worden Fire Dist. #4 - 2 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Laurel Fire Dist. #5 - 2 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Laurel Fire Dist. #7 - 2 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Lockwood Fire Dist. #8 - 2 Trustees for 3 yr. Term
- Worden/Ballantine Water & Sewer District -2 Directors for 4 yr. Term
- Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch County Water & Sewer Dist. - 3 Directors for 4 yr. Term
- Lockwood Urban Transportation Dist. - 2 Board Members for 4 yr. Term
- Lockwood Irrigation Dist. -1 Commis¬sioner for 3 yr. Term
- Nutting Drainage Dist. - 1 Commissioner for 3 yr. Term
Candidates who filed in those elections have been declared elected to their re¬spective positions by acclamation by the Board of County Commissioners, effective as of the date of the cancelled elections, May 7, 2024.
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5 March 2024
Notice of Close of Regular Voter Registration and Option for Late Registration
Notice is hereby given that regular* registration for the School Election(s) to be held on May 7, 2024, will close at 5:00 p.m., on April 8, 2024. Late registration opens on April 9, 2024.
*NOTE: A district court decided Section 13-2-304(1)(a) of the Montana Code Annotated (2021) violated the Montana Constitution. The Section required you to register to vote by 12:00 p.m. the day before the election. The decision was appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. The appeal is pending. Until the Montana Supreme Court decides the appeal, the prior version of the Section applies. Under the prior version of the Section, you may register for the election by showing up at the county election office up to and including on Election Day; however, between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot.
All active and inactive**electors of School Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 15, 17, 21J, 23, 24, 26, 37, 41, 52, & 58 are entitled to vote at said election.
**Ballots will be automatically mailed to Active Electors only. If you are a registered voter and do not receive a ballot, contact the county election office to update your information as necessary and receive a ballot.
Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by submitting a form for registration by mail or by appearing at the county election office. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration form and submitting it to the county election office.
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