Bill > HB187

This bill revises Montana's election laws by modifying the requirements for ballot tabulation and vote counting. Specifically, the bill removes the previous mandate for continuous, uninterrupted vote counting and introduces more flexible provisions for vote tabulation. Under the new law, counties performing vote counting before election day can continue until 5 p.m. or until all legally countable ballots are tabulated, whichever comes first. The results cannot be publicly revealed until after polls close and all voters have completed voting. After 8 p.m. on election day, county election administrators must provide initial results to the public and then update those results at least every three hours until counting is complete. For elections involving statewide races or ballot issues, results must first be reported to the secretary of state's election night reporting system. The bill also maintains requirements that vote counting be open to public observation and that all election documents be secured. An important change is the removal of language mandating continuous, uninterrupted tabulation, which provides counties more operational flexibility in managing vote counting processes. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2114