Montana Secretary of State Celebrates Voting Laws Decision

Montana’s Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen told KGVO News this week that she and her staff celebrated Tuesday’s decision by the Montana Supreme Court to uphold two of the election laws passed by the 2021 Legislature.

“It's been a great week for elections in our state,” began Secretary Jacobsen. “I'm super grateful that the Supreme Court recognized the importance of orderly, safe and secure elections. My request was simple; that our state be allowed to administer the upcoming elections in a manner that was trained and understood freeing election officials from the partisan and legally engineered havoc that was dealt to election workers across the board.”

The two laws, one that eliminated same-day voter registration, and the other that requires a legal photo ID in order to vote, were passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Gianforte, however, District Court Judge Michael Moses ruled that the laws may have been unconstitutional. Secretary Jacobsen commented.

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“These common sense election laws were supported by the legislature, signed by the governor and implemented by election officials across the state. Many of those election officials have only conducted an election under the new laws that were adopted by House Bill 176 and Senate Bill 169 In the last legislative session.”

Jacobsen said the Supreme Court decisions will help to ensure a free and fair election.

“I'm pleased to see clarity and consistency for those election officials for the benefit of all the voters of Montana in this upcoming election,” she said. Thousands of Montanans successfully registered and voted over the past year, and thousands more will participate in the upcoming primary elections.”

Jacobsen encouraged all eligible Montana residents to register to vote prior to the upcoming June primary and then visit their polling place to cast their vote.

“I want to encourage all eligible Montana voters to check their voter registration status on the My voter page on our website and get registered, and let's vote Montana”

Election officials are hoping for a large turnout for the first polling place election in nearly four years.