Montana Tribes join lawsuit restricting voter registration on Election Day

HELENA, Mont. — A coalition of Montana tribes and Native advocacy organizations has moved to join a lawsuit challenging a new state law that eliminates most Election Day voter registration, arguing it will disproportionately disenfranchise Indigenous voters in rural communities.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Western Native Voice filed a motion Tuesday to intervene in a case originally brought by the Montana Federation of Public Employees. The lawsuit is against Senate Bill 490, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte on May 5.

SB 490, which was sponsored by Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, closes voter registration at noon on Election Day, eliminating eight hours previously available for same-day registration. The law also ends registration on the Monday before elections, though it opens registration on the preceding Saturday.

“Each time we’ve stood up in court for our right to vote, we do so not for ourselves, but for the generations who came before us and those who will come after,” said Fort Belknap President Jeffrey Stiffarm in a press release. “Our ancestors fought for recognition, sovereignty, and dignity. It’s racism to try and enact the same laws over again. We will not let the state drag us backwards or silence our people. Not now. Not ever.”



https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/tribes-move-to-join-lawsuit-challenging-montana-election-laws