Zortman, Montana Public Records

This collaborative approach helps investigators work more efficiently and allocate resources where they're needed most, ultimately improving response times and public safety for residents across Phillips County.

Montana residents can register to vote online at https://sosmt.gov/elections/vote through the Montana Secretary of State's My Voter Page, by mail using a voter registration form available from the Phillips County election office or online, or in person at the Phillips County Clerk and Recorder's office. The state offers same-day voter registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote on Election Day at their polling place or elections office, though registering in advance is encouraged. Registration requires Montana residency for at least 30 days prior to the election and a valid Montana driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. As an unincorporated community, the town holds no municipal elections for mayor or city council; residents participate instead in Phillips County, state, and federal elections. Local voters cast ballots in county elections for Phillips County Commissioners (three commissioners elected to six-year staggered terms), County Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer, Assessor, and other county offices, typically held in even-numbered years during the general election. To locate their assigned polling place, residents can contact the Phillips County Election Office at (406) 654-2429, visit https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo on the Montana Secretary of State's website and enter their address, or check their voter information card mailed prior to each election. Given the community's small population and remote location, it typically shares a polling location in the southern portion of Phillips County. Montana law (MCA § 13-1-101 et seq.) makes most election records public, including voter registration lists (excluding confidential program participants), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees (available at https://cers-ext.mt.gov), candidate filing information, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Phillips County recorded approximately 60-65% voter turnout, with roughly 1,100 to 1,200 ballots cast out of approximately 1,800 registered voters, consistent with rural Montana's traditionally high civic engagement. The November 3, 2026 general election will be critically important for area voters, featuring several key races: Montana does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, but Montana's at-large U.S. House of Representatives seat will be contested (Montana gained a second congressional district after the 2020 census; Zortman is in Montana's 2nd Congressional District); Montana will elect a Governor and other statewide constitutional officers including Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction; Montana State Senate District 16 and Montana State House of Representatives District 32 (which include Phillips County) will have legislative races; and Phillips County will elect various county offices including potentially County Commissioner positions depending on the rotation schedule. Montana offers absentee voting (called mail ballot voting in Montana) for any registered voter who requests it; voters can request an absentee ballot by contacting the Phillips County Election Office at (406) 654-2429, downloading an absentee ballot request form from https://sosmt.gov/elections, or requesting through the My Voter Page online system. The state has also implemented a permanent absentee voter list; voters can request to be placed on this list and will automatically receive a mail ballot for every election. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or delivered in person to the Phillips County Election Office by 8:00 PM on Election Day.