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HAMILTON, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen joined community leaders and health care professionals in Hamilton to celebrate the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Partners in Home Care’s new location. Secretary Jacobsen praised the organization’s continued growth in western Montana and highlighted what it means for any Montana business to celebrate a grand opening.

“It’s always exciting to see Montana businesses open, grow, and invest in our communities, and it’s an honor to assist them on that journey,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Partners in Home Care is expanding important services for families in the Bitterroot Valley, and I’m grateful for the caregivers, nurses, and staff who are making a difference for patients every single day. It was an honor to be part of such a special celebration.”

“In a state as large and rural as Montana, access to quality health care can be a significant challenge, and that’s exactly why organizations like Partners in Home Care are so important,” she added.

Secretary Jacobsen has been a special guest at numerous grand opening events, including several in western Montana. Under her leadership, the Secretary of State’s Office has cut new business registration fees in half, waived annual report filing fees for all Montana businesses, and removed red tape so entrepreneurs can spend more time serving their customers and less time navigating paperwork and government bureaucracy.

“As Secretary of State, my priority has been to support Montana’s job creators by lowering costs and streamlining the process to start and maintain a business,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “From Hamilton and communities across western Montana to the Hi-Line and Badlands country, I’ll continue working to ensure it’s as easy as possible to open your doors, create important jobs, and grow right here in the Treasure State.”

Secretary Jacobsen thanked the Partners in Home Care team, including Dyana Canavan and Corin Schneider, as well as the community leaders and members of the public who joined the grand opening celebration.

Established in 1987, Partners in Home Care provides home-based health care to families and neighbors in the Bitterroot and western Montana. With locations in Hamilton, Missoula, and Ronan, Partners in Home Care provides services for hospice, home health, infusion, palliative care, and more.

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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and the Montana Election Team have completed ballot certification for Montana’s 2026 Primary Election, finalizing the list of candidates who will appear before voters on Tuesday, June 2.

Pursuant to Montana law, county election administrators certify local candidates for the primary ballot in their respective counties, while the Secretary of State’s Office certifies the names and designations of statewide and state district candidates, including candidates for federal, legislative, and certain judicial offices.

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) notified the Secretary of State’s Office and the county election administrators of any candidate(s) whose name(s) may not appear on the ballot pursuant to Montana law.

“The ballot certification process is a key step in ensuring Montana’s elections are accurate, secure, and transparent,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “I’m grateful to our state election officials and the county election administrators and their teams across the state for their hard work preparing for the 2026 Primary Election.”

A total of 380 candidates filed with the Secretary of State’s Office during the candidate filing period (Tuesday, February 17 – Wednesday, March 4). Several candidates withdrew from their respective races, while Independent candidates are pending petition requirements to qualify for the general election ballot.

Filings with the Secretary of State’s Office included:

• United States Senator: Twelve total candidates filed for the office, though one withdrew and one is pending petition requirements. Five Democrats, three Republicans, and two Libertarians will appear on Montanans’ Primary Election ballots. One Independent candidate must meet Montana’s petition requirements.
• United States Representative: Sixteen total filings in the 1^st and 2^nd Congressional races.
  • 1^st Congressional (MT-01) Ten candidates submitted paperwork for the Congressional seat – four Democrats, four Republicans, and one Libertarian. One Independent candidate must meet petition requirements. The incumbent did not file for re-election.
  • 2^nd Congressional (MT-02) Six candidates submitted filing paperwork, including the incumbent, who is the lone Republican to file for the race. Three Democrats and one Libertarian filed, while one Independent also submitted their paperwork for the race and is pending petition requirements.
• Public Service Commission: Seven candidates will appear on the ballot for the two PSC seats.
  • PSC District 1: Two Republicans and one Democrat will appear before voters for the open seat.
  • PSC District 5: The incumbent is one of three Republicans to file for the seat, while one Democrat also filed.
• Supreme Court Justice: Two candidates filed for the Supreme Court Justice No. 4 race – Judge Dan Wilson was the first to file for Montana’s high court, and Judge Amy Eddy followed suit later the same day.
• District Court Judge: Thirteen candidates submitted filings, including several judges currently on the bench.
• Legislature: The majority of candidate filings were for Legislative seats, where 329 total filings were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office, nearly 130 of which came on the opening day.
  • Montana State Senate: Sixty-six candidates qualified for the 2026 Primary Election, including more than 10 incumbents.
  • Montana State House: A total of 235 candidates qualified for the 2026 Primary Election. Three Independent candidates are pending petition requirements. Dozens of incumbents filed for re-election.

For more information, visit the candidate filing page on the Secretary of State’s website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/filing/.

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HELENA, Mont. — Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted a thorough examination of 23 Montana voter records flagged through the SAVE tool. Based on all federal records at its disposal, USCIS confirmed that all 23 belong to individuals who appear in non-citizen status.

A state review of the 23 voter records indicated nearly 150 ballots were cast in Montana elections. Additionally, several voter records indicated participation in Montana’s petition signature-gathering process.

“For the first time in state history, election officials are able to verify citizenship of Montana’s voter rolls, and at no cost. The federal government’s SAVE tool is producing results,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “One illegal vote disenfranchises the voices of eligible Montanans and can cause irreparable harm to our elections.

Close election races are common in Montana, particularly at the local level. In fact, a recent city council ward race resulted in a tie, and it’s increasingly common for Montana’s local elections to be decided by only a handful of votes. Several races during the 2024 General Election were flagged as possible recount races due to their slim margins.

Secretary Jacobsen also announced that her office had been notified that a non-citizen had come forward and requested cancellation of their voter registration. An initial review indicated that the individual participated in Montana’s electoral process. The update comes after Secretary Jacobsen provided public outreach to Montanans, which was required and an official duty of the office, announcing that election officials would begin verifying the citizenship of the state’s voter registration list.

“Montana has made it clear: only citizens should be allowed to register and vote, and non-citizen voting will not be tolerated,” Secretary Jacobsen said. “Anyone illegally on Montana’s voter rolls should follow this individual’s example – come forward and cancel your illegal voter registration.”

The Secretary of State’s Office will immediately begin working with the appropriate counties. Because of the confidential nature of an ongoing investigation and due-process procedures, state and county elections officials will have no further comment, and no additional details are available at this time. The Montana Election Team remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide Montanans with updates as they become available.

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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen thanked all of the businesses attending the 2026 Made in Montana Tradeshow at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds this weekend. Secretary Jacobsen also congratulated several businesses for being honored with this year’s awards.

The Made in Montana Tradeshow is hosted annually by the Montana Department of Commerce, bringing together business owners and consumers to celebrate Montana-made goods and products. This year marks the 42nd year of the Made in Montana program and the 28th year of the tradeshow.

“This is one of the most exciting weekends of the year for Montana businesses,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Our great state is blessed with outstanding local businesses, including those in the Made in Montana program. Our office is honored to be the first stop on their business journeys, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with them as they grow and succeed.”

This year’s event again featured a wholesale day on Friday, followed by Saturday’s public event, where Montanans browsed local goods and products created by neighbors from across the Treasure State. Thousands of Montanans attend the tradeshow each year to support their fellow Montana entrepreneurs.

Every year, the Montana Department of Commerce presents several awards to businesses in attendance based on nominations from fellow retailers. This year, 56 Counties from Helena accepted the 2026 Retailer of the Year honor.

Other award recipients during the 2026 Made in Montana Tradeshow included:

• Rogue Brownies, Great Falls — Best in Show New Exhibitor
• Beartooth Candle Company, Billings — Best in Show
• RJS Engraving & Design, Stevensville — Best in Show Honorable Mention

“Congratulations to this year’s award recipients and to every business participating in the 2026 Made in Montana Tradeshow,” Secretary Jacobsen said. “Thank you to all our Made in Montana businesses statewide for investing in our communities, creating jobs, and choosing to operate in our beautiful state. I’m honored to partner with the business community, cut red tape, and make it easier to do business so Montana businesses can thrive. Events like this show that Montana entrepreneurship is alive and well.”

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HELENA, Mont. — Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is alerting Montana business owners about deceptive mailings and emails that look official and demand large payments for filing business documents or annual reports. 

These mailings and emails often come from companies using names that appear official. These companies are not affiliated with the Montana Secretary of State’s Office or any government agency. 

Some of these solicitations include fine-print disclaimers stating they are not government offices, yet their design and wording still cause confusion for business owners. 

There is NO FEE to File Your Annual Report Through April 15

Secretary Jacobsen waived the annual report filing fee for all Montana businesses that file by April 15, 2026. Businesses can safely file their 2026 annual report or access their official business documents directly through the official Secretary of State website at biz.sosmt.gov.

Secretary Jacobsen has waived the annual report filing fee each year beginning in 2024. She also announced that the 2027 annual report filing fee will be waived.

“I made a promise to make it easier to do business in Montana, and my team has worked hard to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy so business owners can focus on their success, not red tape,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “I won’t stand by and let these deceptive solicitations, which often stem from out-of-state, take advantage of hard-working Montanans. We’re committed to protecting you, Montana!”

Secretary Jacobsen has previously referred misleading mailings to the Attorney General’s Office and last year fought for Montana businesses by forcing one organization to halt its deceptive practices through a cease-and-desist letter.

How to Protect Yourself

• Look for disclaimers or fine print stating that the document is a solicitation, advertisement, or not associated with a government office or agency.
• Ignore mailings or emails demanding large fees for filings or certificates.  
• Do not send any money to these companies. You may contact them directly to request removal from their mailing list or simply disregard their notices. 
• Share this warning to help protect your fellow Montanans. 

Examples of Business Solicitations

Click the links below to view examples of solicitations reported by Montana businesses.

• 2026 Annual Report Business Renewal Filing solicitation 
• 2026 MT Filing Cheat Sheet solicitation

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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen this week welcomed election officials from across the state to the 2026 Montana Election Summit, a multi‑day training and collaboration event focused on preparing for this year’s elections. The summit brought together members of the Montana Election Team – state and local officials from all 56 counties – for certification training, best‑practice sessions, and discussions on election security, voter education, and customer service.

“This summit is about that trust. It’s about the Montana Election Team – state and local officials working side by side, sharing ideas, solving problems, and making sure we’re ready for anything 2026 throws at us,” said Secretary Jacobsen in her opening remarks. “I always say we are one election team in Montana, and looking around this room proves it.”

Throughout the summit, attendees participated in sessions on topics such as updates to election law and administrative rules, cybersecurity and physical security for elections, ballot‑handling procedures, post‑election audits, and communicating important election information to voters. County election officials also had the opportunity to visit with staff from the Secretary of State’s Office and Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to discuss procedures and processes ahead of the 2026 Primary and General Elections.

“This Summit is a chance to step back and remember why this matters,” Secretary Jacobsen told the Montana Election Team. “Every filing form, every registration update, and every ballot you prepare is about one thing: making sure every eligible Montanan can have confidence that their vote is counted and counted correctly. When a race comes down to a handful of votes, your accuracy can literally decide who represents a community and which direction a policy goes.”

During the event, Secretary Jacobsen also unveiled Montana’s new “I Voted” sticker, which features patriotic colors, a mountain landscape, and the outline of the Treasure State. The sticker will be available to voters in all 56 counties during the 2026 election cycle, giving Montanans a fresh way to proudly share that they participated in the state’s midterm elections.

Secretary Jacobsen thanked county election administrators, clerks and recorders, and their staff for their ongoing work to serve Montana voters. She emphasized that strong elections depend on constant training, communication, and partnership between state and local officials.

“I’m incredibly proud of the Montana Election Team,” Secretary Jacobsen said. “Your professionalism, your attention to detail, and your commitment to getting it right are the reasons Montanans can have confidence in their elections. Thank you for the work you do every day, and thank you for everything you’ll do to serve voters in 2026.”

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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen unveiled the state’s new “I Voted” sticker design, which will be available to voters across Montana during the 2026 election cycle. Secretary Jacobsen celebrated the unveiling in a collaboration with the Montana Election Team, which includes state and local election officials from all 56 counties.

The design features patriotic red, white, and blue colors with a bold outline of the state of Montana. It also incorporates Montana’s mountain landscape, reflecting the Treasure State’s majestic natural beauty. The stickers will allow Montana voters to proudly share their participation in the midterm elections.

“I’m excited to share Montana’s new ‘I Voted’ sticker with voters across the Treasure State,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “The design celebrates our mountains, beauty, and our love of country. It’s one more way to highlight the importance of making your voice heard at the ballot box as we kick off the 2026 election cycle. The Montana Election Team is honored to conduct these elections for Montanans, and we can’t wait to see voters proudly wearing this new sticker in June and November.”

Montanans will see the new sticker at polling places and in county election offices during the 2026 Primary and General Elections.

Secretary Jacobsen encouraged eligible Montanans to register to vote, confirm their registration information is accurate and up to date, and make a plan to participate in the upcoming elections. Montana voters can visit the Secretary of State’s one-stop voting resources website, VoteMT.gov, for more information.

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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen announced today that the Secretary of State’s Office is providing $1 million in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) allocation to Montana’s county election offices to enhance and upgrade security measures for Montana elections.

All 56 counties can request the funding, which must fulfill certain objectives related to election security, including:

• Implementing election security requirements in Montana Administrative Rule,
• Hiring third-party security assessments and implementing recommendations,
• Installing security and surveillance cameras.

“It’s imperative that we ensure security, both physical and cyber, to protect our Montana elections,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Since I was elected, we have made it a priority to upgrade and enhance security measures for our elections. The Department of Homeland Security has designated election systems as ‘critical infrastructure’ across the country, so it’s necessary for Montana to implement the proper security protocols to protect our elections, train our state and local election officials, and provide confidence to voters across Montana.”

Secretary Jacobsen and the Secretary of State’s Office have adopted comprehensive rules to strengthen election security, including requirements for security awareness training, physical security safeguards, and other protective measures that are now in place statewide. 

Beyond routine training and updates, counties are encouraged to continually bolster their security posture. To support that work, the Secretary of State’s Office has previously provided subgrants to Montana counties to implement security assessment recommendations and put additional security measures and procedures in place.