HELENA – Secretary of State Brad Johnson says voting by absentee ballot in Montana has set a record.
Johnson says just over 121,000 absentee ballots have already been voted, surpassing the previous record of of almost 120,000 in 2006.
County election offices have been providing absentee ballots for the Nov. 4 election since Oct. 6.
Johnson says absentee numbers have been steadily climbing since passage of Montana’s “no excuse” absentee voting law. It allows voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason why they will not be able to go to the polls on Election Day.
Another change in the law allows eligible voters to register later than 30 days before the election. Johnson says that law also contributes to the increase in absentee voting.