Election officials reaching out to voters who had ballots rejected following new law
HELENA — Across Montana, election officials are warning they’ve seen a number of voters tripped up by a new state requirement this year: that mail voters write their birth year when signing their ballot envelopes.
Earlier this year, the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 719, which implemented the requirement – seen by supporters as a way to improve election security. The bill took effect Oct. 1, so the Nov. 4 municipal election was the first one where it applied.
Unlike most counties in the state, Lewis and Clark County got an opportunity earlier this year to “soft-launch” the birth year requirement because Helena had a municipal primary and special school district election in September. Election officials included a space for voters to write in their birth year, though their ballot wasn’t rejected if they didn’t include it.
Now, the requirement is being fully enforced. If a voter doesn’t include their birth year, their ballot will be rejected and they’ll be required to fix the issue in order for their vote to count.
https://www.ktvh.com/news/helena-news/election-officials-reaching-out-to-voters-who-had-ballots-rejected-following-new-law