Montana county election offices had received 234,756 absentee ballots as of 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, six days before the Nov. 3 general election, according to a report from the Montana Secretary of State’s Office.

The returned ballots represented 44.62% of the 526,128 absentee ballots issued statewide.

County Return Rates Vary

Sheridan County recorded the highest listed return rate at 54.66%. Lewis and Clark County followed at 50.64%, with Fergus County at 50.14%, Lake County at 48.86% and Daniels County at 48.61%.

Roosevelt County had the lowest listed rate, with 31.21% of issued absentee ballots returned. Big Horn County recorded 32.64%, followed by Lincoln at 33.99%, Richland at 35.17% and Fallon at 35.45%.

Deadline for Ballot Receipt

Absentee ballots must be received by county election offices no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, which is Election Day.