13-19-205. Written plan for conduct of election -- amendments -- public posting requirements, MCA

Montana Code Annotated 2025

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 19. MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS

Part 2. Preelection Procedure

Written Plan For Conduct Of Election -- Amendments -- Public Posting Requirements

13-19-205. Written plan for conduct of election -- amendments -- public posting requirements. (1) The election administrator shall prepare a written plan for the conduct of each election to be conducted by mail. There must be a separate plan for each type of election held even if held on the same day.

(2) The written plan must include:

(a) a timetable for the election;

(b) a plan for providing voter interface devices as required in 13-3-208; and

(c) sample written instructions that will be sent to the electors. The instructions must include but are not limited to:

(i) information on the estimated amount of postage required to return the ballot;

(ii) the location of the places of deposit and the days and times when ballots may be returned to the places of deposit, if the information is available; and

(iii) any applicable instructions specified under 13-13-214(4).

(3) The plan may be amended by the election administrator at any time prior to the 35th day before election day.

(4) The election administrator shall proceed to conduct the election according to the approved plan unless the election is canceled for any reason provided by law.

(5) (a) At least 60 days prior to the election, the plan must:

(i) for elections conducted by the county election office, be posted to the county election website, if active, or publicly noticed in another way;

(ii) for a school election conducted by the school district, be noticed in at least one of the methods provided in 20-20-204(1)(a)(i) or (1)(a)(ii), posted to the district website, if active, and sent to the county election office in accordance with 20-20-201(2)(b); or

(iii) for a school election conducted by the county election office, be noticed in accordance with subsection (5)(a)(i) or (5)(a)(ii).

(b) Any amendments to the mail ballot plan must be noticed in accordance with subsection (5)(a)(i) or (5)(a)(ii) not less than 35 days before the election.

(6) If the plan is not posted at least 60 days prior to the election by at least one of the methods provided in subsection (5), then the election defaults to a polling place election.

History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 196, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 35, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 189, Ch. 49, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 151, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 61, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 689, L. 2025.