Forgot to put your birth year on your birth year on your absentee ballot return envelope? No problem, anymore. Helena District Judge Mike Menahan has just struck down the law that created it. In his ruling, he noted that nearly 6,000 were disenfranchised in the last election because of that requirement. He noted that the U-S Constitution notes that “discarding of lawful votes erodes public confidence that the election results reflect the people’s will.”
The bill that enacted the blank squares on your ballot return envelope was carried by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, a Republican from Columbia Falls, passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. It was designed to deter fraudulent voting. Turns about, about all it did was create a situation where thousands of absentee voters weren’t allow to vote.
Two groups, Disability Rights Montana and Big Sky 55+, launched the lawsuit against Secretary of State Christie Jacobsen, who had to defend the law on the state’s behalf.
In the Flathead County Elections office, the attempted to contact voters who forgot to place their birth year in the boxes, asking voters to come to their offices and correct the situation. Many did. Many simply couldn’t be reached.
Early voting is now underway with absentee ballots on the way this Friday.
