Stanford, Montana Public Records

Montana residents can register to vote online through the Montana Secretary of State's website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/vote/, or by submitting a paper voter registration form available at the Judith Basin County elections office, public libraries, and various state agencies. Voters must register by the close of regular business hours on the day before Election Day, as the state allows same-day voter registration at polling places and election offices. Montana requires voters to provide proof of identity and current address, which can include a Montana driver's license, tribal ID, student ID with fee statement, or current utility bill. Stanford does not hold separate municipal elections for mayor or town council under its current governance structure; town officials are typically appointed or elected under local procedures, and residents should contact Stanford Town Hall at (406) 566-2294 for information about local government positions. The primary elections affecting local residents are federal elections (U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House), state elections (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, state legislature), and county elections (County Commissioners, Sheriff, County Attorney, Clerk and Recorder, Assessor, and other county offices). Voters can find their assigned polling location by contacting the Judith Basin County Elections Office or checking the Montana Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool online. Given Judith Basin County's small population, there are typically one or two polling locations, with the Stanford polling place often at a public building in town. Montana conducts elections primarily by mail ballot; all registered voters receive a mail ballot automatically approximately 20 days before Election Day, though in-person voting at the elections office and on Election Day remains available. Election records in the state are largely public: voter registration lists are available for purchase by campaigns and political organizations under Montana Code Annotated § 13-2-220; campaign finance reports are available through the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices at https://camptrack.mt.gov; candidate filings and declarations are public records at the elections office; and precinct-level election results are published by the county and Secretary of State. In the November 2024 general election, Judith Basin County reported voter turnout of approximately 75-80% of registered voters, reflecting Montana's traditionally high civic engagement, with voters participating in the presidential race and other federal and state contests. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Stanford and Judith Basin County voters will decide several important races: Montana does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Montana's Senate seats are contested in 2024 and 2028), but voters will elect Montana's U.S. Representative for the state's congressional district, all Montana state legislature seats (50 State Senate seats and 100 State House seats are up every two years), and various county offices depending on the rotation schedule, including potentially County Commissioners, Sheriff, Clerk and Recorder, and other county positions. Absentee and mail ballots are the standard voting method in Montana; voters who do not receive a ballot or need a replacement can request one from the Judith Basin County Elections Office by phone, in writing, or in person up through noon on the day before Election Day.