Montana Governor Greg Gianforte Signs Election Integrity Bills into Law
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) signed two election integrity bills into law on Monday.
One bill, SB 169, “require[s] additional identifying information from those who use a student ID to register to vote,” NBC Montana reported.
“SB 169 could be the most important bill I ever carry in my legislative career. Election integrity is truly the rock, the cornerstone of our nation, and voter ID is a key component in protecting the integrity of Montana elections,” state Sen. Mike Cuffe (R-Eureka), the sponsor of the bill, said after Gianforte signed it into law.
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Montana Democrats sue over bills tightening voter ID, ending Election Day registration
Jonathon Ambarian
and last updated 2021-04-20 20:50:34-04
HELENA â The Montana Democratic Party is suing over two bills tightening rules for voters in the state, immediately after Gov. Greg Gianforte signed them into law.
The party filed suit against Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, a Republican, in Yellowston County District Court. They are asking the court to stop her from enforcing House Bill 176 and Senate Bill 169.
HB 176 would remove the option for Montanans to register to vote on Election Day. Late registration would be closed at noon the day before an election. SB 169 would more tightly define what type of identification a voter in Montana has to show â specifically requiring additional proof of residency for voters showing student IDs.
Missoula Current.
The party alleges the bills are unconstitutional when it comes to equal protection under the law, saying younger voters will be more affected by the laws than older ones.
“Montana’s legislators knew that both the Voter ID Restrictions and the Election Day Registration Ban would place heightened burdens on Montana’s youngest voters when it passed both laws, the complaint says. The Montana Legislature heard direct testimony from both student voters and advocacy organizations that both laws would impose barriers on the franchise for young voters; it passed the bill anyway in direct contravention of Montana’s Equal Protection Clause.”
Montana Governor Signs 2 Election Integrity Bills, Democrats Sue Claiming ‘Voter Suppression’
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, has signed into law two election integrity bills one that tightens voter ID requirements and the other eliminating Election Day registration prompting Democrats to sue, claiming “voter suppression.”
House Bill 176 moves the deadline for late voter registration to noon on the day before Election Day, while Senate Bill 169 restricts acceptable IDs to use for voting, requiring some voters to present two forms of identification before casting a ballot.
“Montana has a long history of secure, transparent elections, setting a standard for the nation,” Gianforte said in a Monday tweet. “These new laws establish new best practices to ensure the continued integrity of Montana’s elections for years to come.”