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Bill

SB 184

Provide that only contested precinct committee men/women need to be on the primary election ballot

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Regier

Montana law now requires only contested precinct committee races to appear on primary ballots, removing uncontested positions from voter ballots statewide.

Chapter Number Assigned
#elections(seealso:ballotissues)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 184

Legislative bill overview

SB 184 modifies Montana's primary election procedures by requiring that only precinct committee positions with contested races appear on the primary ballot. Previously, all precinct committee candidates appeared on ballots regardless of whether multiple candidates were running for the same position. This streamlines ballot presentation by removing uncontested races from print.

Why is this important

This change affects how Montanans participate in party leadership selection at the grassroots level. Precinct committee members form the foundation of party organization and help determine party direction, delegate selection, and local priorities. Removing uncontested races from ballots could reduce voter awareness of unopposed candidates and may impact party engagement, particularly in rural areas where some precincts may have limited candidate pools.

Potential points of contention

  • Ballot transparency: Voters won't see all available party leadership positions, potentially reducing informed participation in party governance
  • Access to unopposed candidates: Uncontested candidates receive no ballot visibility, which may disadvantage lesser-known community members seeking party roles
  • Voter engagement: Primary voters might miss opportunities to learn about or support party candidates, particularly in areas where parties struggle to recruit multiple candidates per position

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

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