MontanaHB 17969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise election laws related to inactive voter status

Sponsored By: Braxton Mitchell (Republican)

Became Law

Elections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier reactivation for inactive voters

If you are on the inactive voter list and still meet registration rules, you can be moved back to active. You trigger this by going to a polling place to vote, applying to vote absentee, voting in a mail-ballot election, writing the county with your current address in that county, or filling out the county’s reactivation form with your current address. After you do any one of these, the county election administrator must add you to the active list. If you are reactivated by the voting-related steps, you are legally registered for that election. The law takes effect immediately on passage and approval.

Signing statewide petitions won't reactivate voters

The county cannot move you from inactive to active just because you signed a statewide ballot petition. You can still sign petitions. To become active again, you must vote, apply to vote, or update your address with the county as outlined in the law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Braxton Mitchell
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Shelley Vance
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 216 • No: 83

House vote • 3/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 58 • No: 42

House vote • 2/3/2025