Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to Montana's election laws, primarily by introducing a top-two primary system for certain offices. This system allows the two candidates with the highest votes in primary elections to advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. The bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including the filing of recall petitions and the process for filling legislative vacancies, ensuring that appointees align with the political party preference of the vacating legislator. Additionally, it clarifies procedures for appointing individuals to fill vacancies and emphasizes the importance of party affiliation in the appointment process.

The bill also includes numerous amendments to streamline election processes, such as defining key terms related to candidacy and updating candidate filing deadlines. It specifies that election judges must be chosen from lists submitted by county central committees and introduces new provisions for handling vacancies and absentee voting. Notably, the bill mandates that ballots for partisan primaries must clearly display candidates' party preferences. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the electoral process in Montana by promoting competition, ensuring clarity in election procedures, and reinforcing the integrity of the electoral system.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-16-615, 3-1-906, 5-2-402, 5-2-403, 5-2-404, 5-2-406, 7-3-313, 7-3-512, 7-3-704, 7-3-1256, 7-4-2106, 7-4-2206, 7-4-2302, 7-4-2310, 7-4-4112, 13-1-101, 13-1-103, 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-4-102, 13-10-201, 13-10-202, 13-10-203, 13-10-204, 13-10-208, 13-10-209, 13-10-211, 13-10-301, 13-10-302, 13-10-303, 13-10-325, 13-10-326, 13-10-327, 13-10-405, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-505, 13-10-601, 13-10-605, 13-12-201, 13-12-202, 13-12-203, 13-12-205, 13-12-207, 13-13-214, 13-13-225, 13-13-241, 13-14-112, 13-14-113, 13-15-205, 13-15-507, 13-16-211, 13-16-412, 13-16-418, 13-16-419, 13-16-501, 13-17-103, 13-25-201, 13-25-205, 13-27-401, 13-35-106, 13-35-205, 13-35-206, 13-35-207, 13-35-214, 13-35-218, 13-35-221, 13-35-225, 13-35-226, 13-36-101, 13-36-102, 13-36-103, 13-36-104, 13-36-201, 13-36-202, 13-36-203, 13-36-206, 13-36-207, 13-36-209, 13-36-210, 13-36-211, 13-36-212, 13-37-127, 13-37-216, 13-37-234, 13-38-101
SB0562_1(1): 2-16-615, 3-1-906, 5-2-402, 5-2-403, 5-2-404, 5-2-406, 7-3-313, 7-3-512, 7-3-704, 7-3-1256, 7-4-2106, 7-4-2206, 7-4-2302, 7-4-2310, 7-4-4112, 13-1-101, 13-1-103, 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-4-102, 13-10-201, 13-10-202, 13-10-203, 13-10-204, 13-10-208, 13-10-209, 13-10-211, 13-10-301, 13-10-302, 13-10-303, 13-10-325, 13-10-326, 13-10-327, 13-10-405, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-505, 13-10-601, 13-10-605, 13-12-201, 13-12-202, 13-12-203, 13-12-205, 13-12-207, 13-13-214, 13-13-225, 13-13-241, 13-14-112, 13-14-113, 13-15-205, 13-15-507, 13-16-211, 13-16-412, 13-16-418, 13-16-419, 13-16-501, 13-17-103, 13-25-201, 13-25-205, 13-27-401, 13-35-106, 13-35-205, 13-35-206, 13-35-207, 13-35-214, 13-35-218, 13-35-221, 13-35-225, 13-35-226, 13-36-101, 13-36-102, 13-36-103, 13-36-104, 13-36-201, 13-36-202, 13-36-203, 13-36-206, 13-36-207, 13-36-209, 13-36-210, 13-36-211, 13-36-212, 13-37-127, 13-37-216, 13-37-234, 13-38-101
SB0562_1(2): 2-16-615, 3-1-906, 5-2-402, 5-2-403, 5-2-404, 5-2-406, 7-3-313, 7-3-512, 7-3-704, 7-3-1256, 7-4-2106, 7-4-2206, 7-4-2302, 7-4-2310, 7-4-4112, 13-1-101, 13-1-103, 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-4-102, 13-10-201, 13-10-202, 13-10-203, 13-10-204, 13-10-208, 13-10-209, 13-10-211, 13-10-301, 13-10-302, 13-10-303, 13-10-325, 13-10-326, 13-10-327, 13-10-405, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-505, 13-10-601, 13-10-605, 13-12-201, 13-12-202, 13-12-203, 13-12-205, 13-12-207, 13-13-214, 13-13-225, 13-13-241, 13-14-112, 13-14-113, 13-15-205, 13-15-507, 13-16-211, 13-16-412, 13-16-418, 13-16-419, 13-16-501, 13-17-103, 13-25-201, 13-25-205, 13-27-401, 13-35-106, 13-35-205, 13-35-206, 13-35-207, 13-35-214, 13-35-218, 13-35-221, 13-35-225, 13-35-226, 13-36-101, 13-36-102, 13-36-103, 13-36-104, 13-36-201, 13-36-202, 13-36-203, 13-36-206, 13-36-207, 13-36-209, 13-36-210, 13-36-211, 13-36-212, 13-37-127, 13-37-216, 13-37-234, 13-38-101
SB0562_1(3): 2-16-615, 3-1-906, 5-2-402, 5-2-403, 5-2-404, 5-2-406, 7-3-313, 7-3-512, 7-3-704, 7-3-1256, 7-4-2106, 7-4-2206, 7-4-2302, 7-4-2310, 7-4-4112, 13-1-101, 13-1-103, 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-4-102, 13-10-201, 13-10-202, 13-10-203, 13-10-204, 13-10-208, 13-10-209, 13-10-211, 13-10-301, 13-10-302, 13-10-303, 13-10-325, 13-10-326, 13-10-327, 13-10-405, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-505, 13-10-601, 13-10-605, 13-12-201, 13-12-202, 13-12-203, 13-12-205, 13-12-207, 13-13-214, 13-13-225, 13-13-241, 13-14-112, 13-14-113, 13-15-205, 13-15-507, 13-16-211, 13-16-412, 13-16-418, 13-16-419, 13-16-501, 13-17-103, 13-25-201, 13-25-205, 13-27-401, 13-35-106, 13-35-205, 13-35-206, 13-35-207, 13-35-214, 13-35-218, 13-35-221, 13-35-225, 13-35-226, 13-36-101, 13-36-102, 13-36-103, 13-36-104, 13-36-201, 13-36-202, 13-36-203, 13-36-206, 13-36-207, 13-36-209, 13-36-210, 13-36-211, 13-36-212, 13-37-127, 13-37-216, 13-37-234, 13-38-101
SB0562_1: 2-16-615, 3-1-906, 5-2-402, 5-2-403, 5-2-404, 5-2-406, 7-3-313, 7-3-512, 7-3-704, 7-3-1256, 7-4-2106, 7-4-2206, 7-4-2302, 7-4-2310, 7-4-4112, 13-1-101, 13-1-103, 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-4-102, 13-10-201, 13-10-202, 13-10-203, 13-10-204, 13-10-208, 13-10-209, 13-10-211, 13-10-301, 13-10-302, 13-10-303, 13-10-325, 13-10-326, 13-10-327, 13-10-405, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-505, 13-10-601, 13-10-605, 13-12-201, 13-12-202, 13-12-203, 13-12-205, 13-12-207, 13-13-214, 13-13-225, 13-13-241, 13-14-112, 13-14-113, 13-15-205, 13-15-507, 13-16-211, 13-16-412, 13-16-418, 13-16-419, 13-16-501, 13-17-103, 13-25-201, 13-25-205, 13-27-401, 13-35-106, 13-35-205, 13-35-206, 13-35-207, 13-35-214, 13-35-218, 13-35-221, 13-35-225, 13-35-226, 13-36-101, 13-36-102, 13-36-103, 13-36-104, 13-36-201, 13-36-202, 13-36-203, 13-36-206, 13-36-207, 13-36-209, 13-36-210, 13-36-211, 13-36-212, 13-37-127, 13-37-216, 13-37-234, 13-38-101