A Montana district court judge July 7 granted a preliminary injunction against a state law limiting the number of ballots a person can deliver on others’ behalf.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana calls the ruling a win for the voting rights of Native Americans living on rural reservations.
Judge Jessica Fehr of the Yellowstone County District Court sided with Native American tribes, Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote in her order, writing the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in seeking a permanent injunction on the Ballot Interference Prevention Act, or BIPA.
The law passed by voters in 2018 caps the number of ballots a person or group can drop off for someone else at six. It also requires people to sign a form letting election officials know they’re dropping off another person's ballot.
There had already been a temporary restraining order in place against BIPA. The hearing on a permanent injunction is scheduled for Sept.
Kevin Trevellyan is Yellowstone Public Radio’s Report for America statehouse reporter.