Yellowstone Times

Gov. Greg Gianforte has recently revised voter registration provisions on the Montana Code after he signed two bills that he said are aimed at preserving the integrity of Montana elections. 

Gianforte signed House Bills 176 and 169 into law on April 19.

“Montana has a long history of secure, transparent elections, setting a standard for the nation,” the governor said in a statement, the Montana Free Press reported. “These new laws will help ensure the continued integrity of Montana’s elections for years to come.”

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen specifically requested the two new laws because “voter ID and voter registration deadlines are best practices in protecting the integrity of elections,” the Montana Free Press reported.

HB 176 will require voters to register no later than noon on the day before the scheduled election. SB 169 requires voters who do not have a government-issued photo ID or a concealed carry permit to present two other forms of identification in order to vote.

Some voting rights advocates including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana, Forward Montana, Western Native Voice, and the Montana Public Interest Research Group oppose both bills, saying they are against the voter’s rights. Western Native Voice is looking at challenging the new laws.