Senate Bill 360 revises various sections of Montana's election laws, focusing on clarifying definitions and rules of conduct for public officers and employees. Key amendments include the updated definition of "accepted ballot," which is now defined as one completed by an elector and deemed countable by the election administrator. The bill introduces new terms such as "challenged ballot," "overvote," and "replacement ballot," while also updating the definition of "candidate" to reflect changes in the nomination process. Additionally, it clarifies the handling of absentee ballots, specifying that they must be treated as "accepted" if signatures match.

The bill imposes stricter regulations on the use of public resources by candidates and state officers, prohibiting the use of state funds for advertisements featuring their name, image, or voice, except in emergencies. It outlines expected conduct for public officers and employees, including restrictions on financial transactions with individuals they supervise and the requirement to disclose potential conflicts of interest. Other amendments address limitations on contributions to candidates when the office sought is unknown and the timing for filing campaign finance reports. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the clarity and efficiency of election processes in Montana, ensuring adherence to updated standards and procedures. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_1(1): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_1(2): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_1(3): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_1(4): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_1: 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X(1): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X(2): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X(3): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X(4): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X(5): 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234
SB0360_X: 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234