UNAPPROVED DRAFT BILL -- Subject to Change Without Notice!
BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY
(Primary Sponsor)
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SOLICITATION ON ELECTION DAY OF SIGNATURES ON A PETITION FOR A BALLOT ISSUE WITHIN A POLLING PLACE OR OTHER BUILDING WHERE AN ELECTION IS BEING HELD; AND AMENDING SECTION 13-35-211, MCA."
WHEREAS, petitioning for ballot issue signatures inside a polling place gives the appearance of official sanction of the solicitation of signatures or the purpose of the initiative petition; and
WHEREAS, this appearance of signature gatherers inside a polling place confuses voters, who sometimes mistake initiative petitioners for election judges; and
WHEREAS, gathering signatures within a polling place violates the spirit of the existing prohibition against electioneering within a polling place.
THEREFORE, the Legislature intends that the current prohibition against electioneering be expressly made applicable to the solicitation of signatures on a petition for a proposed ballot issue.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 13-35-211, MCA, is amended to read:
"13-35-211. Electioneering -- signature gathering -- soliciting information from electors. (1) A person may not do any electioneering on election day within any polling place or any building in which an election is being held or within 100 feet of any entrance to the building in which the polling place is located, which that aids or promotes the success or defeat of any candidate or ballot issue to be voted upon at the election.
(2) On election day, a person may not solicit signatures on a petition for a ballot issue within a polling place or within a building in which an election is being held.
(2)(3) A person may not buy, sell, give, wear, or display at or about the polls on an election day any badge, button, or other insignia which that is designed or tends to aid or promote the success or defeat of any candidate or ballot issue to be voted upon at the election.
(3)(4) A person within a polling place or any building in which an election is being held may not solicit from an elector, before or after the elector has marked a ballot and returned it to an election judge, information as to whether the elector intends to vote or has voted for or against a candidate or ballot issue."
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Latest Version of LC 753 (LC0753.01)
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