Signed by Governor Greg Gianforte

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes voting precincts with less than 400 in-person voters to open at noon, instead of 7 a.m.

Highlights:

• Requires a polling place that has less than 400 registered voters who intend to vote at the polling place to be open under one of the following conditions (Sec. 1): 

• At least noon to 8 p.m.; or

• Until all registered voters in a precinct have voted. 

• Specifies the determination of if a polling place has less than 400 registered voters who intend to vote in-person is calculated by taking the total number of registered voters and subtracting the number of registered voters who have applied to vote using an absentee ballot (Sec. 1).

• Requires the election administrator responsible for a polling place opening later than 7 a.m. to mail a notice of the change in polling place hours to all registered voters who have not received an absentee ballot no later than 30 days before the election (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any polling place that serves a precinct that is partially or entirely within the boundaries of an American Indian reservation from changing the hours of operation until the county governing body with the governing body of the American Indian reservation (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes voting precincts with less than 400 in-person voters to open at noon, instead of 7 a.m.

Highlights:

• Requires a polling place that has less than 400 registered voters who intend to vote at the polling place to be open under one of the following conditions (Sec. 1): 

• At least noon to 8 p.m.; or

• Until all registered voters in a precinct have voted. 

• Specifies the determination of if a polling place has less than 400 registered voters who intend to vote in-person is calculated by taking the total number of registered voters and subtracting the number of registered voters who have applied to vote using an absentee ballot (Sec. 1).

• Requires the election administrator responsible for a polling place opening later than 7 a.m. to mail a notice of the change in polling place hours to all registered voters who have not received an absentee ballot no later than 30 days before the election (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any polling place that serves a precinct that is partially or entirely within the boundaries of an American Indian reservation from changing the hours of operation until the county governing body with the governing body of the American Indian reservation (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text