The bill amends Montana's primary election procedures by requiring electors to declare a political party affiliation or identify as unaffiliated before participating in a primary election. It stipulates that any declaration of party affiliation must occur prior to voting, with a provision that declarations made less than six weeks before a primary will take effect only in the subsequent primary. Unaffiliated electors are barred from receiving party ballots, and the Secretary of State is tasked with creating and revising forms related to party affiliation declarations and voter registration. The bill also introduces penalties for falsifying party affiliation and outlines the necessary identification and proof of citizenship for declaring a party affiliation.

Additionally, the bill repeals several existing laws concerning party affiliation and primary elections, streamlining the electoral process and ensuring that only recognized political parties can participate in primaries. It mandates that election administrators send confirmation notices to electors with undeliverable notices and specifies that reactivated electors retain their declared party affiliation unless a new one is filed. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to certify new parties eligible for primaries based on their performance in the most recent general election and emphasizes the preparation of written plans for mail-in elections. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the integrity, efficiency, and clarity of the electoral process in Montana, with provisions taking effect for elections on or after January 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13-1-210, 13-2-110, 13-2-115, 13-2-116, 13-2-122, 13-2-207, 13-2-220, 13-2-222, 13-10-209, 13-10-301, 13-10-305, 13-10-601, 13-13-214, 13-17-103, 13-19-205, 13-37-121