The birth year requirement is a procedural rule for Montana mail-in/absentee ballots, introduced by a 2025 state law (House Bill 719, effective October 1, 2025).
When you return a mail ballot (or absentee ballot) in Montana, you must:
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- Sign the ballot return envelope (as always).
- Also write your four-digit birth year (e.g., 1992) in the designated boxes right next to the signature line.
The envelope now has specific spots (usually four small boxes) labeled for the birth year. You use a black or blue pen.
Why it exists
The law was passed to add an extra layer of security and help election workers verify that the person returning the ballot is the actual registered voter. It works alongside signature matching.
What happens if you forget it
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- Your ballot will be set aside and not counted unless you fix (“cure”) it.
- County election offices usually try to contact you (by phone, email, or mail) so you can provide the missing birth year and have your vote counted.
- In the first elections after the law took effect (fall 2025 municipal elections), hundreds to thousands of ballots statewide were initially rejected for this reason alone.
Election officials sent out the birth year requirement alert because ballots for the May 5, 2026 school and special-district elections are being mailed this week. They want voters to remember the new step so ballots aren’t rejected.
Be sure to double-check the instructions printed on the envelope before sealing and returning it. It’s a small but required step now for every mail ballot in Montana.
