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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.”
