Montana Title 13. Elections § 13-16-301. Application and court order for recount

(1)(a) Within 5 days after the canvass of election returns, an unsuccessful candidate for any public office at an election may apply to the district court of the county where the election was held for an order directing the appropriate county or school recount board to make a recount of the votes cast in any or all of the precincts or the school district polling places. If the election was held in more than one county, the application must be made to the district court of the county where the candidate resides.

(b) Within 5 days after the canvass of election returns, an elector who was eligible to vote on the issue and who believes that there are grounds for a recount of the votes cast for and against a ballot issue may apply to the district court of the county where the elector resides for an order directing the appropriate county or school recount board to make a recount of the votes cast in any or all of the precincts or the school district polling places.