Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 35. ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN PRACTICES AND CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 2. Specific Provisions

Injury To Election Equipment, Materials, And Records

13-35-206. Injury to election equipment, materials, and records. A person is guilty of criminal mischief or tampering with public records and information, as appropriate, and is punishable as provided in 45-6-101 or 45-7-208, as applicable, whenever the person:

(1) prior to or on election day, knowingly defaces or destroys any list of candidates posted in accordance with the provisions of the law;

(2) during an election:

(a) removes or defaces instructions for the voters; or

(b) removes or destroys any of the supplies or other conveniences placed in the voting station for the purpose of enabling a voter to prepare the voter's ballot;

(3) removes any ballots from the polling place before the closing of the polls with the purpose of changing the result of the election;

(4) carries away or destroys any poll lists, checklists, ballots, ballot boxes, or other equipment for the purpose of disrupting or invalidating an election;

(5) knowingly detains, mutilates, alters, or destroys any election returns;

(6) mutilates, secretes, destroys, or alters election records, except as provided by law;

(7) tampers with, disarranges, defaces, injures, or impairs a voting system with the intent to alter the outcome of an election;

(8) mutilates, injures, or destroys a ballot or appliance used in connection with a voting system; or

(9) fraudulently defaces or destroys a declaration or certificate of nomination.

History: En. 23-47-114 by Sec. 14, Ch. 334, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 23-47-114; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 414, L. 2003.