State judge strikes down Montana’s ballot envelope birth year requirement
Judge Mike Menahan said the state failed to show the birth-year rule prevented fraud, and nearly 6,000 ballots were already disenfranchised.
- On Monday, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan ruled that Montana's requirement for voters to write their birth year on absentee ballot envelopes is unconstitutional, finding it disenfranchised nearly 6,000 voters since 2025.
- The 2025 Legislature created the requirement, proposed by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, to prevent voter fraud; Disability Rights Montana and Big Sky 55+ challenged the legislation, arguing it discarded lawful votes without evidence of fraud.
- In Billings, Judge Menahan noted the 2025 mayoral race was decided by 200 votes, while 627 ballots were excluded because they lacked birth years, demonstrating the requirement's potential to alter election outcomes.
- Consequently, 2026 general election ballot envelopes missing a birth year will not be rejected; Montana Secretary of State Christie Jacobsen defended the law, while spokesperson Richie Melby called the ruling "mass confusion" during voting.
- In a press release, Big Sky 55+ praised the decision, with chairperson Terry Minow stating it ensures democracy remains healthy by counting all votes; the state has not yet indicated if it will appeal.
45 Articles
45 Articles
The Guam Daily Post
Montana judge rules ballot birth year verification violates voting rights
HELENA, Mont. – The midterm election is quickly approaching, with more than half a million in-state absentee ballots slated to go out to Montana voters this Friday. For the past year, Montanans have had to sign their birth year along…
Judge: Voters don't need to write birth dates on ballot envelopes
Ballot packages heading into the mail this week will instruct voters to write their birth dates on the outermost envelope, but a judge's decision means election officials can't discard the ballot if a voter submits it without writing their birth…
State judge strikes down Montana’s ballot envelope birth year requirement – WTOP News
An absentee ballot requirement that has resulted in thousands of Montana votes being thrown out since 2025 was ruled unconstitutional Monday by a state judge. At issue is the requirement that voters write their birth year on absentee ballot return envelopes. In his Monday ruling, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan said...
Associated Press News
State judge strikes down Montana's ballot envelope birth year requirement
An absentee ballot requirement that has resulted in thousands of Montana votes being thrown out since 2025 was ruled unconstitutional Monday by a state judge.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
