Flathead County elections officials are seeing a boost in accepted absentee ballots after a birth year requirement was struck down by a district court judge earlier this month.

Nearly 25% of the 53,865 absentee ballots mailed out to Flathead County voters on Oct. 9 were received by elections staff as of Wednesday, according to Elections Administrator Paula Buff. As of Tuesday, fewer than 30 were rejected for lack of a signature. 

It's a change from other elections in recent memory, when hundreds of ballots were rejected for missing a birth year or a signature, boasting a signature that didn't match the one on file, or some combination of those errors.  

A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge ruled Oct. 5 that the 2025 state law — which reportedly led to thousands of rejected ballots in previous elections across Montana — was unconstitutional.  

In Flathead County, 197 ballots were rejected in the 2025 municipal elections solely for lacking the voter's birth year. More than 200 ballots cast in special district elections were rejected for missing the birth year alone in May, and another 160 ballots were rejected for the same omission in the June primary. 

Voters still must sign the affirmation envelope for their ballot to be accepted.  

Buff recommended voters mail absentee ballots no later than Oct. 26 to ensure it reaches the Election Department by Election Day on Nov. 3.  

Absentee ballots can also be dropped off at one of the county's three ballot boxes at Whitefish City Hall, Columbia Falls City Hall and the Elections Department at 290 B N. Main St. in Kalispell. On Election Day, voters can drop off ballots at any one of the county's 11 polling locations between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

Those who made a mistake on their ballot can request a new one by emailing, calling or visiting the Election Department. Registration to vote or changes in address for registered absentee voters must be done in person, Buff said. Eligible voters must be 18 years old by Election Day, have a photo ID and be a permanent Montana resident for at least 30 days prior to Nov. 3. 

It's already proving to be a busy election season for the department, Buff said. Voter rolls swelled by nearly 3,000 additional electors who've registered since the June primary, she said, expanding Flathead County's active voter base to 70,566.  

"We have been slammed since the Tuesday after ballots were sent out," Buff said. "No one on my team is taking a lunch." 

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.