Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB494: Revise voting system auditing in election laws
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act requiring a test of the election management a new voting system to verify system functionality; requiring election administrators to print, examine, and retain voting system audit logs and records of votes cast that audit logs or cast vote records be retained as a public record; and amending sections section 13-1-303 and 13-15-206, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT REQUIRING A TEST OF THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT A NEW VOTING SYSTEM TO VERIFY SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY; REQUIRING ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS TO PRINT, EXAMINE, AND RETAIN VOTING SYSTEM AUDIT LOGS AND RECORDS OF VOTES CAST THAT AUDIT LOGS OR CAST VOTE RECORDS BE RETAINED AS A PUBLIC RECORD; AND AMENDING SECTIONS SECTION 13-1-303 AND 13-15-206, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Test of election management system required. The election administrator shall conduct a test of the election management system when a new voting system is acquired and after an event that could alter the voting system, including system upgrades, SOFTWARE PATCHES, FIXES, AND DOWNLOADS or in a situation in which the election management system hardware leaves the custody and control of the election administrator. This end-to-end functionality analysis must verify that the complete voting system is functioning correctly. Section 2. Section 13-1-303, MCA, is amended to read: "13-1-303. Disposition of ballots and other election materials. (1) (a) Except for a federal election and as provided in 13-15-301(2), the voted ballots, detached stubs, unvoted ballots, and unused ballots from an election must be kept in the unopened packages received from the election judges for a period of 12 months. The packages may be opened only when an order for …
Sponsors
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) 2nd Reading Indefinitely Postponed
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (S) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- : (S) Fiscal Note Received
- : (S) Committee Report
- : (S) Committee Executive Action
Votes
- Indefinitely Postpone -McGillvray (March 6, 2025): 31 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 21 yea, 28 nay, failed
Subjects: Elections, Local Government
Common questions
- What is SB494?
- SB494 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise voting system auditing in election laws.
- What does SB494 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act requiring a test of the election management a new voting system to verify system functionality; requiring election administrators to print, examine, and retain voting system audit logs and records of votes cast that audit logs or cast vote records be retained as a public record; and amending sections section 13-1-303 and 13-15-206, mca.".
- What is the status of SB494?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB494?
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44).
- Where is the official record for SB494?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2713
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.