This bill revises existing laws regarding the use of political party affiliation in nonpartisan judicial races, specifically for candidates running for the positions of Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court. It allows these candidates to indicate their political party affiliation on their declaration for nomination, which will also be displayed on both primary and general election ballots. Additionally, candidates are permitted to announce their political affiliations and endorsements. The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these changes, including provisions for how candidates' names and party affiliations will appear on ballots.

Key amendments include the requirement that if a candidate for Chief Justice or Justice of the Supreme Court indicates a political party affiliation, that affiliation must be displayed alongside their name on the ballot. Conversely, if no affiliation is indicated, the candidate's name will be labeled as "Nonpartisan." The bill also clarifies that the election administrator will not include a nonpartisan designation or write-in space for these offices if the incumbent is the only candidate. The changes will take effect for elections held on or after January 21, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115, 13-14-212