Bill > SB498

This bill revises the procedures for election judges when preparing to count votes in primary elections. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 13-10-311 of Montana law to clarify and streamline the vote counting process. The key changes include: requiring election judges to separate ballots by political party and count them separately, reconcile the total number of ballots used with the number of voters, list party candidates separately in tally books, and bundle voted ballots for each party separately. An additional provision is added specifically for counties that count ballots by hand, explicitly requiring them to separate ballots for each political party and count them separately. The bill provides more detailed and consistent instructions for election judges during the vote preparation and counting process, which could help improve accuracy and transparency in primary election vote counting. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage and approval, meaning it can be implemented for the next primary election.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1478