The bill amends Section 13-10-311 of the Montana Code Annotated, which outlines the duties of election judges when preparing for the count of votes in primary elections. The key changes include the deletion of the requirement for election judges to separate and count ballots for each political party separately, which has been replaced with a new provision that mandates this separation and counting specifically in counties where ballots are solely counted by hand. Additionally, the bill retains the responsibilities of election judges to reconcile the total number of party and other ballots, list candidates separately in tally books, and bundle voted ballots for each party for return to the election administrator.

The bill is designed to streamline the preparation procedures for primary elections while ensuring that the counting process remains accurate and organized. It emphasizes the importance of separating and counting party ballots in hand-counted counties, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-10-311