Court: Election laws burden right to vote, violate Montana Constitution

The Thirteenth Judicial District Court ruled today that three voter suppression laws passed during the 2021 Montana Legislative Session violate the Montana Constitution and unreasonably restrict Montanans in exercising their right to vote.

Today’s order permanently enjoins the Secretary of State from enforcing House Bill 176, which eliminated election day registration, Senate Bill 169, which complicated voter identification requirements and limited the use of student ID, and House Bill 530, which barred paid ballot collection. In July, the Court also permanently enjoined House Bill 506...