Signed by Governor Greg Gianforte

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that requires at least one poll watcher from each political party at a ballot drop box location.

Highlights:

• Requires the election judges to permit one poll watcher from each political party to be stationed close to the poll lists in a location that does not interfere with the election procedures. At the time when each elector signs the elector's name, one of the election judges shall pronounce the name loud enough to be heard by the poll watchers. A poll watcher who does not understand the pronunciation has the right to request that the judge repeat the name. Poll watchers must also be permitted to observe all of the vote counting procedures of the judges after the closing of the polls and all entries of the results of the elections (Sec. 1-1).

• Authorizes at least one poll watcher from each political party to be permitted at each place of deposit for a mail ballot election (Sec. 1-3).

• Authorizes a candidate, a group of candidates, or any group having an interest in the election to request the election administrator to allow additional poll watchers at any precinct or any place of deposit for a mail ballot election. The election administrator will grant such requests if the number of poll watchers at the polling place or place of deposit will not interfere with the election procedures (Sec. 2).

• Specifies if the election administrator's office is not accessible, the election administrator will designate at least one accessible place of deposit (Sec. 3-1.b).

• Authorizes the election administrator to designate certain locations as Election Day places of deposit, and any designated location functions as a place of deposit only on Election Day (Sec. 3-4).

• Requires poll watchers to be allowed at each place of deposit during the days and times that the place of deposit is open for the return of ballots (Sec. 3-7).

Full Bill Text