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SB 439

Generally revise laws related to voter list maintenance

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Theresa Manzella

SB 439 sought to revise Montana voter list maintenance procedures but died in committee without advancing, leaving current election verification and removal processes unchanged.

(S) Died in Process
#elections #localgovernment
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 439

Legislative bill overview

SB 439 proposed revisions to Montana's voter list maintenance procedures—the processes by which election officials verify voter eligibility, remove ineligible voters, and update registration records. The bill died in the legislative process during the 2025 session and did not advance beyond the State Administration Committee.

Why is this important

Voter list maintenance directly affects election administration accuracy and voter access. How states maintain voter rolls influences both ballot security (removing ineligible voters) and voter disenfranchisement risk (incorrectly purging eligible voters). Changes to these procedures can be consequential for election integrity and voter participation.

Potential points of contention

  • Eligibility verification standards: Disagreement likely exists over which methods should verify voter eligibility (cross-database checks, manual review, third-party data sources) and how rigorous verification should be
  • Removal procedures and safeguards: Questions about how quickly ineligible voters are removed, what notification and appeal processes voters receive, and protections against erroneous removal of eligible voters
  • Implementation costs and county capacity: Election administration is resource-intensive; revisions may impose unfunded mandates or varying burdens on Montana's counties with different administrative capacities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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