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HOUSE BILL NO. 606
INTRODUCED BY A. OLSEN
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING PROVISIONS FOR THE PAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON ABSENTEE BALLOT RETURN ENVELOPES; PROVIDING THAT THE COUNTY SHALL PAY THE POSTAGE IF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IS RETURNED BY MAIL; SUPERSEDING THE UNFUNDED MANDATE LAWS; AND AMENDING SECTION 13-13-201, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Absentee ballot return postage. Every absentee ballot return envelope mailed to electors by county election administrators pursuant to 13-13-214 must provide that the county shall pay the postage if the ballot is returned by mail.
Section 2. Section 13-13-201, MCA, is amended to read:
"13-13-201. Voting by absentee ballot -- procedures. (1) A legally registered elector or provisionally registered elector is entitled to vote by absentee ballot as provided for in this part.
(2) The elector may vote absentee by:
(a) marking the ballot in the manner specified;
(b) placing the marked ballot in the secrecy envelope, free of any identifying marks;
(c) placing the secrecy envelope containing one ballot for each election being held in the signature envelope;
(d) executing the affirmation printed on the signature envelope; and
(e) returning the signature envelope with all appropriate enclosures by regular mail, postage paid as provided for in [section 1], or by delivering it to:
(i) the election office;
(ii) a polling place within the elector's county;
(iii) pursuant to 13-13-229, the absentee election board or an authorized election official; or
(iv) in a mail ballot election held pursuant to Title 13, chapter 19, a designated place of deposit within the elector's county.
(3) Except as provided in 13-21-206 and 13-21-226, in order for the ballot to be counted, each elector shall return it in a manner that ensures the ballot is received prior to 8 p.m. on election day.
(4) A provisionally registered elector may also enclose in the outer signature envelope a copy of the elector's photo identification showing the elector's name. The photo identification may be but is not limited to a valid driver's license, a school district or postsecondary education photo identification, or a tribal photo identification. If the provisionally registered elector does not enclose a photo identification, the elector may enclose a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, notice of confirmation of voter registration issued pursuant to 13-2-207, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address."
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Unfunded mandate laws. The provisions of [this act] expressly supersede and modify the requirements of 1-2-112 through 1-2-116.
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Latest Version of HB 606 (HB0606.01)
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