Senate Bill No. introduced by D. Zolnikov aims to revise the provisions related to election judges in Montana. The bill establishes a notification requirement for county central committees when an election judge is permanently removed for violations or disruptions. It also introduces a complaint process for these committees if they do not receive the required notifications or if their submitted lists of nominees are not utilized in the selection of judges. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding the selection process of election judges, ensuring that the governing body can choose judges from both party lists and individuals who self-nominate, including independents.

The bill amends Sections 13-4-102 and 13-4-203 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to enhance the selection and training processes for election judges. Key changes include the requirement for the governing body to ensure representation from multiple political parties on election boards and to consider the qualifications and preferences of individuals when making appointments. The bill also mandates that individuals attending training sessions indicate their party affiliation preference, which will be taken into account to maintain balanced representation on election boards. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-4-102, 13-4-203
SB0470_1(1): 13-4-102, 13-4-203
SB0470_1(2): 13-4-102, 13-4-203
SB0470_1(3): 13-4-102, 13-4-203
SB0470_1: 13-4-102, 13-4-203