Montana Supreme court rules voter restriction laws passed in ’21 unconstitutional
The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday released a massive 125-page opinion that struck down permanently four voting laws passed by the 2021 Legislature, saying that they impermissibly got in the way of residents exercising their right to vote.
The four laws, which ranged from 18-year-olds registering before Election Day to using university-issued identification, were supported by Republican lawmakers and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte as ways to enhance the security of the voting process, especially in light of the the false allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
But in its decision, three years in the making, the Montana Supreme Court’s majority found that the state’s Constitution granted even broader protections for voting than the federal constitution, and said that the state failed to show a compelling interest in restricting residents’ access to the ballot.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
