New in 2006: Changes to the Voting Law

Montana’s election process became significantly more efficient, effective, and useful to Montana voters as a result of bills supported by MCV, and passed by the 2005 legislature and signed by Governor Schweitzer. Numerous changes to Montana’s voting laws have been made over the past several years.

New provisions for the 2006 general election include:

• A late voter registration period wherein if a voter registers in the last 30 days before an election, they will be allowed to vote at the county courthouse by using the new statewide voter file.
  
• Permanent absentee voting by mail allows electors to be added to a statewide list to regularly receive absentee ballots before elections (including municipal elections).
  
• Absentee ballots are now available 45 days before a general election instead of 30 days.

For a full list of county election administrators, clerks and recorders, download the attached file below.

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2007 Legislative Update:

Though the 2005 Legislature enacted legislation to make voting more accessible, a movement in the 2007 Legislature is seeking to roll-back these popular gains, including Montana's successful late voter registration option!

Montana's late registration period is a success:

• Almost 7500 Montanans registered and voted during Montana’s late registration period – a total of 3,947 of those people registered on Election Day. Montana should be PROUD of the fact that so many thousands of residents who might not otherwise have voted participated in the election.
• Turnout in the 2006 non-presidential election was over 63 percent, compared to 54 and 53 percent in the last two non-presidential elections. The 2006 turnout exceeded even that in the presidential election of 2000 (60 percent).
  

Both HB 266 and HB 281 propose to eliminate the opportunity for Montana residents to register and vote on Election Day, or for up to 14 business days before the election.

• There was a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation about the late registration opportunity. It was not well advertised and promoted.
• As late as September 2006, the Secretary of State’s website stated that voter registration ended October 10.
• County clerk and recorders published legal notices and advertisements stating that voter registration for the general election ended at 5:00 p.m. on October 10, and in most cases, no correction was issued.
• In fact, voters could register up to and including Election Day. Such erroneous information led to confusion about the late registration process, and may certainly have contributed to long lines on Election Day because people thought they could ONLY register and vote on Election Day.
  

Montana should not eliminate something that promoted participation in our elections by several thousand Montanans, very many of whom may not have otherwise voted.

This was the first year of late registration, including registration and voting on Election Day. It was very successful, despite the confusion. The goal of our election process should be to improve voter participation, not to simply make it easier for election administrators. Clerk and recorders can certainly make this work with better and more accurate information and, if necessary, with additional resources, rather than eliminating this voter opportunity.

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electionadministrators.pdf	12.07 KB