Revise electioneering laws

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69th Legislature 2025 SB 281.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 281
1 SENATE BILL NO. 281
2 INTRODUCED BY M. YAKAWICH
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4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING ELECTIONEERING LAWS; PROHIBITING
5 ELECTIONEERING WITHIN 100 FEET OF A LINE OF VOTERS OUTSIDE OF A POLLING LOCATION;
6 AMENDING SECTION 13-35-211, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”
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8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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10Section 1. Section 13-35-211, MCA, is amended to read:
11 "13-35-211. Electioneering -- soliciting information from electors. (1) A person may not do any
12 electioneering on election day within any polling place or any building in which an election is being held, or
13 within 100 feet of any entrance to the building in which the polling place is located, or within 100 feet of a line of
14 voters waiting outside of the polling location to vote that aids or promotes the success or defeat of any
15 candidate or ballot issue to be voted upon at the election.
16 (2) On election day, a candidate, a family member of a candidate, or a worker or volunteer for the
17 candidate's campaign may not distribute alcohol, tobacco, food, drink, or anything of value to a voter within a
18 polling place or a building in which an election is being held, or within 100 feet of an entrance to the building in
19 which the polling place is located, or within 100 feet of a line of voters waiting outside of the polling location to
20 vote.
21 (3) A person may not buy, sell, give, wear, or display at or about the polls on an election day any
22 badge, button, or other insignia that is designed or tends to aid or promote the success or defeat of any
23 candidate or ballot issue to be voted upon at the election.
24 (4) A person within a polling place or any building in which an election is being held may not solicit
25 from an elector, before or after the elector has marked a ballot and returned it to an election judge, information
26 as to whether the elector intends to vote or has voted for or against a candidate or ballot issue."
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28 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a
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69th Legislature 2025 SB 281.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 281
1 copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
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3 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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