Title 13, Title 13

(1) (a) Before an elector is permitted to receive a ballot or vote, the elector shall present to an election judge one of the following forms of identification showing the elector's name that is current, valid, and readable: (i) a Montana driver's license, Montana state identific…

The election administrator in each precinct shall use a precinct register, pollbook, or some other method to record the number of individuals voting and the number of ballots cast that conforms to the method prescribed by the secretary of state in accordance with rules adopted pu…

(1) Before delivering a paper ballot to an elector, the election judges shall ensure that the words "official ballot" are printed on the ballot without part of the mark appearing on the stub, if any. (2) Each elector must receive from the election judges one of each type of ballo…

(1) (a) After marking the precinct register pursuant to 13-13-115 and receiving a ballot, an elector shall immediately retire to a voting station and prepare the elector's ballot in the manner prescribed in the instructions provided pursuant to 13-13-112. (b) An elector who spoil…

(1) An elector able to come to the premises where a polling place is located but unable to enter the polling place because of a disability may contact the election administrator prior to coming to the premises and request that a ballot be delivered to the elector outside the buil…

(1) A disabled elector may request assistance in marking the elector's ballot. (2) If the elector has not designated an agent: (a) the election judges shall require a declaration of disability by the elector. The declaration must be made under oath, which must be administered by …

(1) The election judges shall permit one poll watcher from each political party to be stationed close to the poll lists in a location that does not interfere with the election procedures. At the time when each elector signs the elector's name, one of the election judges shall pro…

A candidate, a group of candidates, or any group having an interest in the election may request the election administrator to allow additional poll watchers at any precinct or any place of deposit designated under 13-19-307 for a mail ballot election. The election administrator s…

An election officer, sheriff, constable, or other peace officer may clear the passageway, prevent any obstruction, or arrest any individual obstructing the passageway to a polling place.

(1) A legally registered elector or provisionally registered elector is entitled to vote by absentee ballot as provided for in this part. (2) The elector may vote absentee by: (a) marking the ballot in the manner specified; (b) placing the marked ballot in the secrecy envelope, f…

(1) (a) If an elector has received but not voted an absentee ballot and the absentee ballot contains printing errors or omissions, the elector may receive a replacement or corrected ballot. (b) The death of a candidate after the printing of the ballot constitutes a printing error…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the election administrator shall ensure that ballots for a polling place election are available as follows: (a) for an election conducted on a primary or general election day: (i) 30 days prior to election day for absentee voting in perso…

(1) Except as provided in 13-13-222, 13-21-223, and subsection (2) of this section, an application for an absentee ballot must be made before noon on the day before the election. (2) A qualified elector who is prevented from voting at the polls as a result of illness or health em…

(1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), an elector may apply for an absentee ballot by using a standard application form provided by rule by the secretary of state pursuant to 13-1-210 or by making a written request, which must include the applicant's birth date and must…

(1) All absentee ballot application forms must be addressed to the appropriate county election office. (2) Except as provided in subsection (4), the elector may mail the signed application directly to the election administrator or deliver the application in person to the election…

(1) (a) Except as provided in 13-13-213 and in subsection (1)(c) of this section, the election administrator shall mail, postage prepaid, to each legally registered elector and provisionally registered elector from whom the election administrator has received a valid absentee bal…

(1) As soon as the official ballots are available for in-person absentee voting under 13-13-205(1)(a)(i), the election administrator shall permit an elector to apply for, receive, and mark an absentee ballot before election day by appearing in person at the office of the election…

(1) The election administrator may designate and appoint absentee election boards as needed or authorize one or more election officials to serve in various places to deliver ballots to electors who are entitled to vote by absentee ballot as provided in 13-13-229. (2) In a partisa…

The election administrator may make appointments to an absentee election board from lists of qualified electors in the county prepared in substantially the same manner as provided in 13-4-102. The election administrator may refuse for cause to appoint or may for cause remove a me…

Before assuming any of the responsibilities under this part, each member of an absentee election board shall take and subscribe the official oath in the same manner as prescribed for an election judge in 13-4-105.

(1) Each member of an absentee election board is entitled to compensation for the number of hours worked. (2) Each member of an absentee election board is entitled to full reimbursement for actual travel expenses incurred while delivering ballots on election day. (3) The election…

(1) Pursuant to 13-13-212(2), the elector may request that an absentee election board or an authorized election official personally deliver a ballot to the elector. (2) The manner and procedure of voting by use of an absentee ballot under this section must be the same as provided…

(1) If an absentee ballot is received prior to delivery of the official ballots to the election judges, the election administrator shall process it according to 13-13-241 and then, unless the early preparation process in 13-13-241(8) was followed, deliver the unopened secrecy env…

(1) Absentee ballots must be official numbered paper ballots beginning with ballot number 1 and following consecutively according to the number of applications for absentee ballots. (2) The election administrator shall keep a record of all absentee ballots issued. (3) The electio…

(1) The election judges, at the opening of the polls, shall: (a) note on the pollbook opposite the appropriate ballot numbers the fact that the ballots were issued as absentee ballots; and (b) reserve the numbers for electors who may vote late under 13-13-211(2). (2) The election…

(1) (a) Upon receipt of each absentee ballot signature envelope, an election administrator shall compare the signature of the elector or elector's agent on the absentee ballot request or on the elector's voter registration form with the signature on the signature envelope and sha…

If a signature envelope containing an absentee ballot has been deposited unopened in the ballot box and the envelope has not been marked rejected, the signature envelope must be processed as provided in 13-13-241.

(1) As soon as possible after receipt of an elector's absentee ballot application or signature envelope, the election administrator shall give notice to the elector by the most expedient method available if the election administrator determines that: (a) the elector's ballot is t…

(1) (a) Upon a written or an in-person request from a legally registered or provisionally registered elector with a disability, an election administrator shall provide the elector with an electronic ballot. (b) The request may be made by electronic mail. (2) (a) After receiving a…

A provision of this chapter may not be interpreted to conflict with Title 13, chapter 21.

(1) An elector's right to vote may be challenged at any time by any registered elector by the challenger filling out and signing an affidavit stating the grounds of the challenge and providing any evidence supporting the challenge to the election administrator or, on election day…

(1) Before being given a ballot, an elector casting a provisional ballot: (a) must be given information, in a form prescribed by the secretary of state, explaining how to vote provisionally, what information must be provided by the elector to verify the elector's eligibility, and…

(1) To ensure the election administrator has information sufficient to determine the elector's eligibility to vote, an elector voting by mail may enclose in the outer signature envelope, together with the voted ballot in the secrecy envelope: (a) a Montana driver's license number…

(1) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to: (a) implement the provisions of 13-13-114 and this part concerning verification of voter identification and eligibility; (b) establish standards for determining the sufficiency of information provided on absentee ballot signature e…