Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 4. ELECTION JUDGES

Part 1. Appointment

Manner Of Choosing Election Judges

13-4-102. Manner of choosing election judges. (1) Subject to 13-4-107, election judges must be chosen from lists of qualified registered electors in the county, submitted at least 45 days before the primary election in even-numbered years by the county central committees of the political parties eligible to nominate candidates in the primary.

(2) The list of each party may contain more names than the number of election judges to be appointed. The names of those not appointed as election judges must be given to the election administrator for use in making appointments to fill vacancies.

(3) Each board of election judges must include judges representing all parties that have submitted lists as provided in subsection (1). No more than the number of election judges needed to obtain a simple majority may be appointed from the list of one political party in each county. If any of the political parties entitled to do so fail to submit a list meeting the requirements of this section, the governing body shall, to the extent possible, appoint judges so that all parties eligible to participate in the primary are represented on each board.

(4) The election administrator shall make appointments to fill vacancies from the list provided for in subsection (2). If the list is insufficient or if one or more of the eligible political parties fails to submit a list meeting the requirements of this section, the election administrator may select enough people meeting the qualifications of 13-4-107 to fill election judge vacancies in all precincts.

(5) An elector chosen to potentially serve as an election judge must be notified of selection at least 30 days before the primary election in even-numbered years. Each elector who agrees to serve as an election judge shall attend a training class conducted under 13-4-203 and shall continue to serve as provided in 13-4-103.

History: En. Sec. 50, Ch. 368, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 258, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 125, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 23-3202; amd. Sec. 54, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 232, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 2017.