Bill > SB276

This bill revises Montana's voter identification laws by modifying the requirements for voting and casting provisional ballots. The bill expands the types of acceptable identification to include student photo identification cards from schools in the national association of intercollegiate athletics and Montana concealed carry permits, while requiring that all identification be current, valid, and readable. It eliminates the previous option for voters to submit a declaration of reasonable impediment when they lack proper identification, which previously allowed voters to explain why they could not provide standard identification. The bill changes the process for provisional voting by removing the ability to declare specific impediments to obtaining identification and streamlines the verification process for provisional ballots. Voters casting provisional ballots will now have until 5 p.m. the day after an election to provide valid identification or eligibility information, and election administrators will have more specific guidelines for handling and potentially counting these ballots. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval, and it does not affect rights, duties, or proceedings that began before its effective date.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0181