Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB57: Revise county canvassing processes
Status: Signed into law, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising county canvassing processes; requiring a board of county canvassers to compare the number of votes cast to the number of electors and the number of persons who voted during canvass; requiring a board of county canvassers to investigate discrepancies or errors in vote counts; providing that a board of county canvassers may require a recount of votes in an investigation of discrepancies or errors; amending sections 13-15-403 and 13-16-201, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING COUNTY CANVASSING PROCESSES; REQUIRING A BOARD OF COUNTY CANVASSERS TO COMPARE THE NUMBER OF VOTES CAST TO THE NUMBER OF ELECTORS AND THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO VOTED DURING CANVASS; REQUIRING A BOARD OF COUNTY CANVASSERS TO INVESTIGATE DISCREPANCIES OR ERRORS IN VOTE COUNTS; PROVIDING THAT A BOARD OF COUNTY CANVASSERS MAY REQUIRE A RECOUNT OF VOTES IN AN INVESTIGATION OF DISCREPANCIES OR ERRORS; AMENDING SECTIONS 13-15-403 AND 13-16-201, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 13-15-403, MCA, is amended to read: "13-15-403. Canvass to be public -- nonessentials to be disregarded -- petition for recount investigation of discrepancies in vote counts. (1) The canvass must be public. It must proceed by opening the returns, auditing the tally books or other records of votes cast, determining the vote for each individual and for and against each ballot issue from each precinct, compiling totals, comparing the number of votes cast to the number of electors and number of persons who voted, and declaring or certifying the results. (2) The board shall record all write-in votes shown in the returns from each precinct. (3) The returns may not be rejected because of failure to show who administered the oath to the election judges, failure to complete all the certificates in a pollbook, or failure of any …
Sponsors
- Cuffe, Mike (R, 1) · primary sponsor
- Cochran, Curtis (R, 90)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 15, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 96 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 10, 2025): 47 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 7, 2025): 47 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Elections, Counties
Common questions
- What is SB57?
- SB57 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise county canvassing processes.
- What does SB57 do?
- In its own words: An act revising county canvassing processes; requiring a board of county canvassers to compare the number of votes cast to the number of electors and the number of persons who voted during canvass; requiring a board of county canvassers to investigate discrepancies or errors in vote counts; providing that a board of county canvassers may require a recount of votes in an investigation of discrepancies or errors; amending sections 13-15-403 and 13-16-201, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB57?
- Signed into law as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB57?
- Cuffe, Mike (R, 1), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB57?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2037
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.