Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to amend various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to enhance clarity and procedures related to elections. Key amendments include updated definitions such as "accepted ballot," which is now defined as a ballot deemed countable by the election administrator, and the introduction of terms like "challenged ballot" and "overvote." The bill also redefines "Person" to encompass various organizations and candidates, while elaborating on "Political committee" to include different types of committees involved in election activities. Additionally, it introduces new definitions for "Replacement ballot" and "Report of the canvass," which detail the processes for managing ballots and reporting election outcomes.

The legislation imposes stricter regulations on public officers and employees regarding the use of state resources for personal or political purposes, specifically prohibiting candidates from using state funds for advertisements featuring their name or likeness, except in emergencies. It also modifies the handling of absentee ballots, stating that if the signature on the absentee ballot envelope matches the elector's registration, it will be treated as an accepted ballot. Furthermore, the bill updates contribution limitations for candidates and emphasizes the importance of ballot security and secrecy during preparation and tabulation. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

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: 2-2-121, 13-1-101, 13-13-241, 13-37-219, 13-37-226, 13-37-234