_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the Secretary of State

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT generally revising election laws; revising procedures for prospective electors to register and vote; clarifying requirements for a board of county canvassers; eliminating the experimental use of vote systems; AMENDING SECTIONS 13-2-205 AND 13-15-401, MCA; and REPEALING SECTION 13-17-105, MCA."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 13-2-205, MCA, is amended to read:

"13-2-205. Procedure when prospective elector not qualified at time of registration. (1) An Subject to subsection (2), an individual who is not eligible to register because of residence or age requirements but who will be eligible on or before election day may apply for voter registration pursuant to 13-2-110 and be registered subject to verification procedures established pursuant to 13-2-109.

(2) Until the individual meets residence and age requirements, a ballot may not be issued to the individual and the individual may not cast a ballot."

Section 2. Section 13-15-401, MCA, is amended to read:

"13-15-401. Governing body as board of county canvassers. (1) The governing body of a county or consolidated local government is ex officio a board of county canvassers and shall meet as the board of county canvassers at the usual meeting place of the governing body within 14 days after each election, at a time determined by the board, to and within 14 days after each election to complete the canvass the of returns.

(2) If one or more of the members of the governing body cannot attend the meeting, the member's place must be filled by one or more county officers chosen by the remaining members of the governing body so that the board of county canvassers' membership equals the membership of the governing body.

(3) The governing body of any political subdivision in the county that participated in the election may join with the governing body of the county or consolidated local government in canvassing the votes cast at the election.

(4) The election administrator is secretary of the board of county canvassers and shall keep minutes of the meeting of the board and file them in the official records of the administrator's office."

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Repealer. The following section of the Montana Code Annotated is repealed:

13-17-105.        Experimental use of voting systems.