Bill > SB298

This bill revises the duties of the Secretary of State by explicitly granting broad supervisory powers over county election administrators. Specifically, the bill adds a new subsection to the existing law that empowers the Secretary of State to exercise direct supervisory control over county election administrators in all matters related to elections. This includes the authority to order and direct election administrators, require them to provide reports and information about voter registration, voter rolls, elections, and election management systems. The bill amends two sections of Montana Code Annotated (MCA): Section 2-15-401, which outlines the Secretary of State's duties, and Section 13-1-301, which describes the role of county election administrators. The new provisions give the Secretary of State significant oversight capabilities, requiring election administrators to promptly gather and provide any information requested and to follow directives from the Secretary of State. The bill is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, and includes a provision that violation of the new requirements could result in fines ranging from $50 to $1,000.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1965