The Montana Democratic Party, Montanans for Tester and registered Montana voter Macee Patritti filed a lawsuit in federal court against Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan, challenging one of Montana’s newly-enacted laws, Senate Bill 319. The suit argues that, by specifically singling out college locations but not other public buildings, the law imposes “arbitrary, vague, and onerous restrictions” on college students’ rights to engage in the political process. The law was signed by Governor Greg Gianforte into law on May 12 following a record voter turnout in the 2020 general election.
Last week, during a roundtable discussion on voter rights, Senator Jon Tester openly criticized recent efforts in Montana to restrict access to voting registration.
