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Montana Statutes § 13-13-245 Notice to elector - opportunity to resolve questions

⤴ Up to Part 2: Procedure for Electors Absent From the Polling Place

Statute Text

(1) As soon as possible after receipt of an elector's absentee ballot application or signature envelope, the election administrator shall give notice to the elector by the most expedient method available if the election administrator determines that:
(a) the elector's ballot is to be handled as a provisional ballot;
(b) the validity of the ballot is in question; or
(c) the election administrator has not received or is unable to verify the elector's or agent's signature under 13-13-213 or 13-13-241 .
(2) The election administrator shall inform the elector that, prior to 8 p.m. on election day, the elector may:
(a) by mail, facsimile, electronic means, or in person, resolve the issue that resulted in the ballot being handled as a provisional ballot, confirm the validity of the ballot, or verify the elector's or agent's signature or provide a signature, after proof of identification, by affirming that the signature is in fact the elector's, by completing a new registration form containing the elector's current signature, or by providing a new agent designation form; or
(b) if necessary, request and receive a replacement ballot pursuant to 13-13-204 .
(3) The ballot of an elector who fails to provide information pursuant to subsection (2) must be handled as a provisional ballot pursuant to 13-15-107 .
(4)
(a) If an absentee ballot is returned as undeliverable, the election administrator shall attempt to contact the elector by the most expedient means available to determine the reason for the return and mail a confirmation notice if the elector cannot be contacted otherwise. The notice must be sent by forwardable mail with a postage-paid, return-addressed reply.
(b) If the confirmation notice is returned to the election administrator, after the election the election administrator shall place the elector on the inactive list provided for in 13-2-220 until the elector reactivates the elector's registration pursuant to 13-2-222 .
(c)
(i) During the election, the elector must be provided with:
(A) the elector's undeliverable ballot upon notification in writing by the elector of the elector's correct mailing address; or
(B) a replacement ballot if a request has been made pursuant to 13-13-204 .
(ii) An elector who votes in the election pursuant to this subsection (4)(c) may not be placed on the inactive list pursuant to the procedures provided in subsection (4)(b).

History

Amended by Laws 2023 , Ch. 255 , Sec. 2 , eff. 7/1/2023 .

Amended by Laws 2017 , Ch. 368 , Sec. 14 , eff. 1/1/2018 .

Amended by Laws 2013 , Ch. 336 , Sec. 38 , eff. 1/1/2014 .

En. Sec. 7 , Ch. 101 , L. 2011 .

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Prior Versions of This Statute