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HELENA, Mont. — Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced today that YouthVote 2026 is officially open. All K-12 students in Montana can now participate on the Secretary of State’s website at sosmt.gov/2026-mt-youth-vote-ballot/.
YouthVote is a statewide mock election that gives students real voting experience and helps them learn about the electoral process.
“I encourage teachers, parents, and guardians to help their students participate in this important civic education opportunity,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “YouthVote gives Montana students a meaningful opportunity to learn how elections work and to experience the responsibility of casting a ballot.”
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will vote on age-appropriate races and topics. Middle and high school students will vote on candidates and ballot issues that will appear on the official ballot for November’s General Election.
Voting is open from October 5 to October 28. Results will be posted and announced on October 30. In previous years, students participating in YouthVote have correctly predicted the results of Montana’s elections.
“YouthVote gives students the opportunity to practice one of our most important civic duties as Americans,” Secretary Jacobsen said. “It is a chance for them to make their voices heard while preparing to become eligible voters in the future.”
Secretary Jacobsen also reminds Montanans that their county election office is a helpful resource for official election information.
YouthVote is hosted in partnership with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.