Montana experienced a significant surge in voter participation during its June primary election, marking over 300,000 ballots cast—a record for midterm primary years. This milestone, sourced from the Montana Secretary of State’s office, highlights an increase in the number of registered voters, yet voter turnout as a percentage of registration has slightly declined since its 2018 peak.
Over the past eight midterm primary elections, registered voters in Montana rose by 31%, from 602,716 in 1998 to 791,207 in 2026. Meanwhile, the number of ballots nearly doubled from 161,568 in 1998 to 300,022 in 2026. The primary election on June 2, 2026, set a new record, surpassing the 293,049 ballots cast in 2022.
The peak voter turnout rate for the last eight midterm primaries was in 2018, with 41.6% of registered voters participating. This rate decreased to 39.4% in 2022 and further to 37.9% in 2026. Despite the turnout rate drop, more Montanans are voting as the electorate expands. Notable spikes in turnout occurred in 2006 and 2018, driven by increased political engagement and low presidential approval ratings, conditions often linked with heightened voter participation.
Though turnout percentages have waned since 2018, the data depict a growing electorate with record-breaking vote totals in Montana’s primaries.
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