13-1-104. Times for holding general elections. (1) A general election must be held throughout the state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Terms Used In Montana Code 13-1-104

  • Ballot: means a paper ballot counted manually or a paper ballot counted by a machine, such as an optical scan system or other technology that automatically tabulates votes cast by processing the paper ballots. See Montana Code 13-1-101
  • Election: means a general, special, or primary election held pursuant to the requirements of state law, regardless of the time or purpose. See Montana Code 13-1-101
  • General election: means an election that is held for offices that first appear on a primary election ballot, unless the primary is canceled as authorized by law, and that is held on a date specified in 13-1-104. See Montana Code 13-1-101
  • issue: means a proposal submitted to the people at an election for their approval or rejection, including but not limited to an initiative, referendum, proposed constitutional amendment, recall question, school levy question, bond issue question, or ballot question. See Montana Code 13-1-101
  • Special election: means an election held on a day other than the day specified for a primary election, general election, or regular school election. See Montana Code 13-1-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201

(2)In every even-numbered year, the following elections must be held on general election day:

(a)an election on any ballot issue submitted to electors pursuant to Article III, section 6, unless the legislature orders a special election, or Article XIV, section 8, of the Montana constitution;

(b)an election of federal officers, members of the legislature, state officers, multicounty district officers elected at a statewide election, district court judges, and county officers; and

(c)any other election required by law to be held on general election day in an even-numbered year.

(3)In every odd-numbered year, the following elections must be held on the same day as the general election:

(a)an election of officers for municipalities required by law to hold the election; and

(b)any other election required by law to be held on general election day in an odd-numbered year.