House Bill No. [insert number] aims to enhance judicial transparency in elections by allowing judicial candidates to declare their political party affiliation on their nomination declarations and have that affiliation appear on the ballot. The bill introduces new sections that permit candidates to announce their political party affiliations and endorsements, thereby providing voters with more information about the candidates. Additionally, it amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to ensure that if a judicial candidate indicates a political party affiliation, it will be displayed alongside their name on the ballot. If a candidate does not declare an affiliation, their name will be marked as "Undisclosed."

The bill also makes specific amendments to existing laws regarding the arrangement and preparation of ballots, ensuring that the names of judicial candidates, along with their political party affiliations, are clearly presented. Notably, it modifies the language in sections related to the use of party names and the appearance of candidates' names on ballots, reinforcing the new provisions for judicial candidates. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, reflecting a significant shift towards greater political transparency in judicial elections in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1(1): 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1(2): 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1(3): 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1(4): 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1(5): 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115
HB0295_1: 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115