Montana sees unofficial primary turnout drop from 2022

More than 37.6% of Montana’s registered voters participated in Tuesday’s primary election, down from 39.4% in the 2022 primaries, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s office. 

Unofficial results show that 297,884 Montanans cast ballots during the 2026 primary, just up from the 293,049 votes cast in 2022. 

But the drop in voter turnout comes from an increase in registered voters. The Secretary of State’s office shows a total of 791,151 registered voters, a 6.3% increase from the 743,710 registered voters in 2022. 

It is also an increase of about 44,000 registrations from 2024, which saw turnout in the presidential year push past 41%. 

A majority of Montanans cast their primary votes by mail, with the Secretary of State’s office reporting that nearly 238,000 absentee ballots had been returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday — more than 81% of all ballots cast. 

Montanans selected party candidates for both U.S. House seats, U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Steve Daines, two seats on the Public Service Commission and more than 120 legislative seats. 

Results are considered unofficial until county officials certify them. Counties have until June 16 by Montana law to certify them.