Western Native Voice

Western Native Voice is part of a national effort to rally voters across Indian Country ahead of next month's midterm elections.

The laws would have ended Election Day voter registration, changed voter ID requirements, and banned paid ballot collection. They are now permanently blocked from going into effect.

A trial is underway in Yellowstone County over three new Montana election laws. Plaintiffs focused their first arguments on barriers to voting in Indian Country.

A Billings district judge Wednesday struck down a state law barring some young voters from accessing a ballot before they turn 18, even if they’d be of legal age on Election Day.

Workers with the advocacy group Western Native Voice are setting up kiosks in places like libraries, community colleges and clinics that enable users to start the voter registration process.

Montana’s largest labor union filed a lawsuit today against Montana’s secretary of state over same-day voting registration restrictions passed during the 2021 legislative session.

The new laws in question limit voter identification acceptable at the polls, restrict ballot drop-offs and eliminate same-day voter registration.

The U.S. Supreme Court v. Cooley decision earlier this month upheld the practice of detaining non-Native suspects on tribal roadways. The practice of detaining non-Natives until the authorities arrive from neighboring districts is common practice on many reservations throughout the US.

Several Montana tribal nations and legal nonprofits on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging two new laws they say disenfranchise American Indian voters.

Voting rights advocates are concerned a new law limiting who can help somebody with an absentee ballot could disenfranchise Montanans who already have trouble voting. Supporters say the policy strengthens the integrity of Treasure State elections.