Montana
Montana has a track record of secure elections thanks to the state’s strict voter protections. Voting laws in Montana are so secure that no election in the state has ever been overturned.
To hold election officers to the highest standard, Montana’s voting regulations include the allowance of poll watchers and some of the nation’s strongest anti-voter intimidation laws.
Poll Watchers
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Though poll watching is permitted in Montana, there are strict rules in place to hold election officers to the highest standard. In the state, only one poll watcher per party per polling place is allowed. This cannot be a candidate whose name is on the ballot.
To be eligible to serve as a poll watcher, a person must:
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be registered to vote in Montana
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be at least 18 years of age
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be a resident of the precinct
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complete required training
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Anti-Voter Intimidation Laws
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Montana protects the right for every citizen to cast his or her vote and has an extensive set of laws that protect voters from harassment, intimidation, and other interference with the right to vote. Voter intimidation in Montana is a violation of federal law and is punishable up to one year in prison, a fine, or both.
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Voter intimidation includes:
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aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship, criminal record, or other qualifications to vote, in a manner intended to interfere with the voters’ rights
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falsely presenting oneself as an election official
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spreading false information about voter requirements, such as an ability to speak English, or the need to present certain types of photo identification
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other forms of harassment, particularly harassment targeted towards non-English speakers and voters of color.
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Latest Legislation
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Despite strict voting laws already in place, new restrictive legislation will make it more difficult for Montana citizens to vote. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte recently signed two voting bills into law, which prohibit registering to vote on Election Day—a practice more than 60,000 voters in the state have done between 2006 and 2018—and ending a previous rule that allowed students to use their student ID to vote, now requiring a second form of identification.
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For more information on Montana voting laws, click here.