MontanaHB 16769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Generally revise election laws

Sponsored By: Julie Darling (Republican)

Became Law

Elections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Posting and pollbook rules for election judges

At each polling place, the chief election judge must post, in a clear spot, the list of voters who received absentee ballots. When polls open, election judges must mark in the pollbook which ballot numbers were issued as absentee and reserve numbers for late absentee voters. Judges must enter only the name of the voter entitled to each ballot number and record that voter’s ballot number, using the administrator’s certificate. These rules apply now in Montana.

Stronger tracking for absentee ballots

The law requires all absentee ballots to be official paper ballots numbered in order starting at 1. The election administrator must keep a record of every absentee ballot issued. When delivering voted absentee ballots, the administrator must include a certificate that lists the ballot numbers sent, delivered, or marked, how many are set aside for late absentee voting, and the names of the voters who got them. These rules apply now in Montana.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Julie Darling
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Shelley Vance
Republican • Senate
Wendy McKamey
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 264 • No: 35

House vote • 3/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 18

House vote • 3/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 33 • No: 17

House vote • 1/30/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 1/29/2025